Diagnosis and treatment of subependymomas

Objective: To study the diagnosis and treatment of subependymomas. Methods: Records of 6 subependymoma patients treated in Neurosurgery Department of our hospital between 2000 and 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.Selected surgical procedures were studied.Postoperative and follow-up data about the patients were analyzed. Results: All the 6 patients underwent surgery.Total removal of tumor was achieved in 5 patients and one of them received combined radiotherapy after operation.Subtotal removal was achieved in a female patient who received radiotherapy after operation.During the follow-up period ranging 6 months-5 years,all the 6 patients had satisfactory prognosis and no recurrence. Conclusion: Microneurosurgery and intraoperative neuronavigation system can increase the rate of total tumor resection.The combination of postoperative radiotherapy can effectively control the residue and subtype of mixed ependymoma and subependymoma.