Adult supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma: Therapeutic approach and clinical review

We report a 69-year-old patient with left paresthesia and hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right frontoparietal cystic tumor. A subtotal surgical resection was performed, and an Ommaya reservoir was left in place. The pathological diagnosis was supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma. Radiation therapy was administered, and Ommaya reservoir drainages were performed. Four months after, her clinical status deteriorated after a reservoir drainage and image revealed an acute hemorrhage. An additional resection was carried out, and chemotherapy was undergone. One month later the tumor relapsed and the patient died 18 months after initial diagnosis. Some poor prognostic factors have been suggested in the literature: Young age, incomplete tumor resection – eloquent area location, histological anaplasia, supratentorial, and extraventricular locations. Ommaya reservoirs may be used in cystic lesions as a temporary measure only. Surgery is the mainstay of therapy with adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.