Hi Dr. Landolfi;
Here is the next question from the group. First though, I want to pass on the sincere "thanks" expressed by many of the group members for your assistance.
A short one this time...Are ependymomas of the brain gliomas?
Thank you (as always)
Bruce
The doctor's response...
No. Gliomas are astrocytomas and come from glial cells or astrocytes. Ependymomas arise from a different cell line caled ependymal cells.
Dr. Landolfi
Because this had brought forth some posting activity I am adding the following:
I cut and pasted the information below from a web site on brain tumors. Patient Resources: Common Brain Tumors
Ependymoma is a type of glioma that arises from the ependymal cells lining the ventricles within the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Ependymomas most often affect children, representing 10% of all childhood brain tumors, and usually arise in the cavity known as the fourth ventricle. In adults, they occur most commonly in the spinal cord.
I think the good doctor is incorrect on this point. Ependymomas are gliomas.
Steve Cox
Hi folks;
I too was confused by Dr. Landolfi's reply. However, I had an appointment today with my neurologist, he answered the question almost exactly as Dr. Landolfi did...Ependymomas (he say's) are NOT gliomas! I always thought they were.
Indeed, The Brain Tumor Society that Steve gave us the link to does classify an ependymoma as a glioma.However, I do not see where they got that information - it is not cited. So, I will send them an email, and ask this question (that I had assumed was very basic), "Are ependymomas gliomas, or not?"
To further make the picture muddy, I also asked my neurologist if ependymomas are cancer, to which he replied, "of course they are...they are a mass of uncontrolled growth inside the body"...
I will let you know what I find out!
Bruce
Here's a link to the American Brain Tumor association and below is what they say about Ependymomas.
What are the different types of brain tumors?
Ependymoma
Ependymomas arise from ependymal cells, which form the lining of the ventricles and central canal of the spinal cord. Overall, 5% of all intracranial tumors are ependymomas. They represent 9% of all gliomas. The spinal ependymoma accounts for 60% of all gliomas in the spinal cord.
Steve
This is from the National Institute of Health. Ependymomas are listed under Glial tumors.
Glial Tumors
Debbie
To: NCI Cancer.gov Staff
Subject: Cancer.gov Inquiry - Ependymomas
Message: Hello;
I am Bruce Blount, a 12 year survivor, and facilitator of the adult
ependymoma online support group (a part of The Brain Trust).
Recent discussion has arisen questioning whether or not ependymomas
are gliomas. Two neuologists have told me that they are NOT, but your
website (and others) list them as being so.
Please clarify this for us.
Thank you in advance.
***********************************************************************
Note: Staff that respond to e-mails addressed to the National Cancer
Institute are Information Specialists, not physicians. We do not
provide medical advice, consultations, or make referrals to specific
physicians. The information provided below is not a substitute for a
health care provider's advice. It is important to discuss with a health
care provider whether or how this information applies to a specific
situation.
***********************************************************************
This is in response to your e-mail to the National Cancer Institute's
(NCI) Web site, www.cancer.gov, asking if an ependymoma is a glioma.
You mentioned being told by two neurologists that ependymomas are not
gliomas, despite seeing information in our resources and others
indicating that they are. A glioma is a cancer of the brain that begins
in glial cells (cells that surround and support nerve cells). An
ependymoma is a glioma derived from ependymocytes (cells that line
cavities in the central nervous system). This is the most common
ependymal neoplasm. Ependymal tumors usually begin in the central canal
of the spinal cord, but may also develop in the cells lining the
ventricles of the brain. The ventricles produce and store special fluid
that protects the brain and spinal cord.
There are many ways to achieve clarity when confronted with this type of
situation. You might want to present the information you have found to
the neurologists for clarification and/or you may wish to ask them to
provide you with literature supporting their position. The
classifications for brain tumors are available at the following NCI Web
page:
Adult Brain Tumors (PDQ(r)): Treatment
"http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adultbrain/HealthProfes
sional/page2"
In the meantime, you may also wish to contact the National Cancer
Institute's Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) for additional guidance. The
Neuro-Oncology Branch is a trans-institute program of the National
Cancer Institute and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke of the National Institutes of Health. Contact information for
this branch is listed on this NCI resource:
Cancer Clinical Trials at the National Institutes of Health Clinical
Center: Questions and Answers
"http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/clinical-center"
You may also wish to contact organizations that may provide additional
information and support such as the American Brain Tumor Association,
The Brain Tumor Society, and the National Brain Tumor Foundation.
Contact information for these and other organizations is listed on this
NCI resource:
National Organizations That Offer Services to People With Cancer and
Their Families
"http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/support/organizations"
If this material does not answer your questions, we invite U.S.
residents to call the NCI's Cancer Information Service (CIS) for
personal, confidential help. The CIS is the source for the latest, most
accurate cancer information for patients, their families, the general
public, and health professionals. To talk with an Information
Specialist, in English or in Spanish, please call 1-800-4-CANCER
(1-800-422-6237). For callers with TTY equipment, the number is
1-800-332-8615. CIS Information Specialists also offer online
assistance through the LiveHelp link at
"https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp"
on the NCI's Cancer.gov Web site.
Information about the NCI's Cancer Information Service is available at:
The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service: Questions
and Answers
"http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Information/CIS"
For further information, people outside the United States may wish to
contact an organization in their country that offers information
services. A list of organizations that serve as International Cancer
Information Services is available at:
International Cancer Information Service Group
"http://www.icisg.org/meet_memberslist.htm#full"
Additional resources may be available through organizations listed in
the International Union Against Cancer's Membership Directory at:
International Union Against Cancer Membership
"http://www.uicc.org/index.php?id=518"
We hope this information is helpful.
National Cancer Institute Staff