RECURRENCE OF SPINAL EPENDYMOMA - RISK-FACTORS AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL

Study Design. A study was conducted on 78 patients with spinal ependym oma. The authors divided the patients in two groups. Objectives. The a im was to elicit the risk factors for recurrence and the fate of patie nts who underwent second operations. Summary of Background Data. Group A is made up of 59 patients with no signs of recurrence at follow-up (median 14 years), and group B is made up of 19 patients who had under gone second operations because of relapses (follow-up median 12 years) . Methods. The clinical and therapeutic characteristics and survival o f the two groups were compared statistically. Result. Analysis of the series shows that the most important points in predicting recurrence a re length of clinical history (P < 0.05), gross appearance of the tumo r at first operation (P < 0.05), and type of excision (P < 0.001). Con clusion. These factors proved to be closely interrelated. In the event of recurrence, spinal ependymoma has an adverse prognosis.