Lateral Ventricle Ependymoma-Case Report And Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Tumors of the lateral ventricle comprise between 0.8% and 1.6% of all brain tumours and occur more commonly in children. Case report: 18-year-old African female was admitted with complaints of headaches, vomiting and unsteady gait. On presentation, she was alert and oriented. Cranial nerves were intact. No cutaneous manifestations. MRI showed a large heterogenous mass at the body of the lateral ventricles bilaterally covering the region foramen of Monro. The patient underwent surgery through an interhemispheric transcallosal approach. Histology revealed classical ependymoma. Discussion: Ependymomas constitute 3% to 5% of CNS tumours in adults and nearly 10% of CNS tumours in children with supratentorial intracranial ependymomas being rare. Ependymomas are believed to arise from radial glial cells. Supratentorial ependymomas peak manifestation has been described in the adult age group with a mean age of 18–24 years. Supratentorial-lateral ventricle symptoms include hydrocephalus (Headache, nausea and vomiting, papilledema), and focal neurological deficits (weakness, gait changes). Half of the supratentorial ependymomas arise from the wall of the ventricles and are solitary large bulky lesions > 4cm with calcification, cyst formation, peritumoral oedema and haemorrhage.