Ependymomas. Factors in clinical and diagnostic staging.

In ependymoma, there is evidence that indicates that age, sex, histologic patterns, functional status, location, duration of symptoms, size, and accessibility to surgical removal influence survival. The role of neuron-specific enolase and other biologic markers must await the accumulation of further information. Further advances in diagnostic imaging, immunodiagnostics, and intraoperative staging should lead to a better understanding of the disease and pinpoint prognostic factors more precisely. A profile that contains important information is suggested; this should eventually lead to the development of a staging system.