Impact of radiation therapy and extent of resection for ependymoma in young children: A population‐based study

Background Young children with posterior fossa ependymoma (PF‐EPN) have a worse prognosis than older children, and they have a unique molecular profile (PF‐EPN‐A subtype). Alternative treatment strategies are often used in these young patients, and their prognostic factors are less clear. Methods We characterized the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of 482 patients between ages 0 and 3 years with the diagnosis of ependymoma identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry (1973–2013). Results Radiation therapy (RT) was delivered to 52.3% of patients, and gross total resection (GTR) was performed in 51.0% of patients. Overall survival (OS) at 10 years was 48.4% with median follow‐up of 3.3 years. WHO grade was not predictive of OS. Extent of resection was significant for survival; the 10‐year OS with GTR was 61.0%, and with subtotal resection (STR) and biopsy was 38.2% and 35.0%, respectively (P