Outcomes and Pattern of Care for Spinal Myxopapillary Ependymoma in the Modern Era-A Population-Based Observational Study

Authors

Chenyang Wang
Michael K Rooney
Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge
Thomas H Beckham
Caroline Chung
Brian S De
Amol J Ghia
David Grosshans
Nazanin K Majd
Mary F McAleer
Susan L McGovern
Robert Y North
Arnold C Paulino
Subha Perni
Jay P Reddy
Laurence D Rhines
Todd A Swanson
Claudio E Tatsui
Martin C Tom
Debra N Yeboa
Jing Li

Publication Date

5-25-2024

Journal

Cancers

Abstract

(1) Background: Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is a rare tumor of the spine, typically slow-growing and low-grade. Optimal management strategies remain unclear due to limited evidence given the low incidence of the disease. (2) Methods: We analyzed data from 1197 patients with spinal MPE from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000-2020). Patient demographics, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes were examined using statistical analyses. (3) Results: Most patients were White (89.9%) with a median age at diagnosis of 42 years. Surgical resection was performed in 95% of cases. The estimated 10-year overall survival was 91.4%. Younger age (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.09, p < 0.001) and receipt of surgery (HR = 0.43, p = 0.007) were associated with improved survival. Surprisingly, male sex was associated with worse survival (HR = 1.86, p = 0.008) and a younger age at diagnosis compared to females. (4) Conclusions: This study, the largest of its kind, underscores the importance of surgical resection in managing spinal MPE. The unexpected association between male sex and worse survival warrants further investigation into potential sex-specific pathophysiological factors influencing prognosis. Despite limitations, our findings contribute valuable insights for guiding clinical management strategies for spinal MPE.

Keywords

SEER, myxopapillary ependymoma, surgical resection, radiotherapy

Comments

PMID: 38893133