Ependymomas are tumours that can form in either the brain or the spinal cord. Ependymomas can be either cancerous or non-cancerous, depending on how the cells are affected. These tumours are named because they start in the ependymal cells of the central nervous system. While they can be cancerous or non-cancerous, benign or malignant, ependymoma tumours should always be diagnosed, monitored, and removed when necessary.
The good news about ependymomas is that they cannot spread outside of the brain or spinal cord, depending on where they form. However, they can spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord because they travel via cerebrospinal fluid. For this same reason, ependymomas cannot spread to the brain or spinal cord from another part of the body. However, because they can wreak havoc on the central nervous system, diagnosis and treatment are always necessary.
As with other types of brain tumours, there are many potential signs and symptoms you can experience with an ependymoma. These symptoms happen because the tumour puts pressure on certain parts of the brain. Here are some of the most common symptoms you can experience with an ependymoma.
There are many other potential signs and symptoms of an ependymoma. These signs and symptoms will vary depending on the size of the tumour, its location, and how advanced it is.
However, because the signs and symptoms of a brain tumour resemble the signs and symptoms of many other conditions, they are not enough for a concrete diagnosis, and further testing is necessary.
Broadly speaking, ependymomas form when there are genetic changes to the cells in your brain or spinal cord. However, why exactly this happens is unknown, and there are very few known risk factors that increase your chances of developing ependymoma. The one that is mostly known is that people with neurofibromatosis Type 2 are more at risk of developing an ependymoma than those without the condition.
Additionally, ependymomas can happen in both children and adults, but they are more common in children. What we do know is that ependymomas cannot spread to the brain from other parts of the body, nor can they spread outside of the brain.
Because the physical and neurological signs and symptoms of an ependymoma mimic those of other conditions, doctors cannot diagnose an ependymoma based on physical symptoms alone. Instead, they will need additional diagnostic tests to confirm whether or not you have an ependymoma.
Imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, are the best way to determine if you have a brain tumour. Once a tumour is confirmed, further testing is necessary to determine if the tumour is cancerous or non-cancerous.
If the tumour is located in the spine, your doctor may recommend a spinal tap or lumbar puncture to retrieve a sample of the tumour for further testing.
If the tumour is located in the brain, your doctor may recommend a biopsy to retrieve a sample of the tumour for further testing.
Currently, surgery is the most common treatment to remove ependymoma tumours from the brain or spinal cord. Surgery is often used in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy, either to shrink the tumour or to remove any cancer that gets left behind after surgery. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy to weaponize the immune system against cancer cells are also effective forms of treatment.