Ependymoma Fact Sheet

• A rare type of glioma that grows from the ependymal cells, which line the pathways that carry and produce cerebrospinal fluid.
• There are three classifications for ependymomas; supratentorial (at the front of the head), infratentorial (back of the head) and spinal (myxopapillary) ependymoma.
• These primary brain tumors can occur in all age groups. Tumors that grow at the base of the brain (posterior fossa) are more often found in children.
• Patients with supratentorial tumors might suffer from a variety of symptoms including weakness in the arms or legs, visual impairment such as blurred vision or seizures.
• Patients with infratentorial tumors can present with difficulty walking, coordination problems, neck pain and neck stiffness.
• Other symptoms may include swelling of the nerve at the back of the eye (papilloedema), rapid and jerky eye movements (nystagmus), irritability, nausea, vomiting and headache.

 Medical content was reviewed by Dr. Mark Johnson of Brigham and Women's Hospital, March 2004.