parietal lobe ependymoma

Parietal Lobe Ependymoma: A Rare Type of Brain Tumor

A parietal lobe ependymoma is a rare type of brain tumor that originates from the cells lining the ventricles of the brain, specifically in the parietal lobe. This type of tumor is considered a primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor, meaning it begins in the brain or spinal cord.

Characteristics and Location

• Parietal lobe ependymomas are an uncommon type of ependymoma, found within the cerebral hemispheres, either remote to or abutting the ventricles [7].
• They arise from the cells lining the ventricles of the brain, specifically in the parietal lobe [9].

Definition and Synonyms

• A parietal lobe neoplasm that has material basis in cells lining the ventricles of the brain [9].
• Also known as a type of ependymoma with ventricular involvement [8].

Incidence and Treatment

• The diagnosis and treatment of brain or spine tumors, including parietal lobe ependymomas, are based on the results of pathology and MRI reports [6].
• Understanding your pathology and MRI report is crucial for making informed decisions about care.

Note: Ependymomas represent a broad group of glial tumours most often arising from the lining of the ventricles of the brain or the central canal of the spinal cord [5].

Symptoms of Parietal Lobe Ependymoma

Parietal lobe ependymomas can cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Numbness or weakness in one side of the body: This is due to the tumor's impact on motor control and sensation [6].
• Difficulty with spatial awareness and judging distances: The parietal lobe plays a crucial role in processing spatial information, so tumors in this area can lead to difficulties with navigation and depth perception [2].
• Impaired speech: Parietal lobe ependymomas can affect language processing, leading to problems with speaking, writing, or naming objects [6].
• Spatial disorders and eye-hand coordination: The parietal lobe is involved in integrating sensory information from the body and visual input, so tumors here can cause difficulties with coordinated movements and spatial awareness [6].

Other Possible Symptoms

In addition to these specific symptoms related to the parietal lobe, ependymomas can also cause more general symptoms such as:

• Headaches: Due to increased intracranial pressure or tumor growth [8].
• Seizures: As a result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain [3].
• Focal neurological deficits: These can include numbness, weakness, or paralysis on one side of the body, depending on the location and size of the tumor [7].

Important Note

It's essential to note that not everyone with these symptoms will have a parietal lobe ependymoma. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's crucial to consult a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

References:

[1] Not provided in context [2] 2. Symptoms of a tumor in the parietal lobe can include: Numbness or weakness in one side of the body; Difficulty with spatial awareness and judging distances ... [3] Other focal findings include visual field defects, focal seizures, headache, nausea, and vomiting. [6] Parietal lobe tumors may cause: impaired speech; problems writing, drawing or naming; lack of recognition; spatial disorders and eye-hand coordination. ... [7] Numbness and weakness in limbs or trunk. Difficulties with urinating and bowel movements. Not everyone with the symptoms above will have cancer but see your ... [8] Sep 10,

Diagnostic Tests for Parietal Lobe Ependymoma

Parietal lobe ependymomas are rare brain tumors that can be challenging to diagnose. However, several diagnostic tests can help identify this condition.

• Imaging tests: Imaging tests such as MRI and CT scans are commonly used to diagnose parietal lobe ependymomas. These tests can provide detailed images of the brain and help identify the tumor's location, size, and characteristics [7].
• Contrast-enhanced MRI: A contrast-enhanced MRI is a type of imaging test that uses a special dye to highlight the tumor on the image. This test can be more reliable in differentiating tumor margins than non-contrast T1-weighted images [5].
• Blood tests: Blood tests are not typically used to diagnose parietal lobe ependymomas, but they may be used to rule out other conditions or monitor the patient's overall health [10].

It's worth noting that the MRI appearance of ependymomas is heterogeneous, with solid portions being hypointense on T1WI and hyperintense on T2WI [3]. Almost all ependymomas are contrast-enhancing lesions.

In terms of specific diagnostic tests for parietal lobe ependymoma, impaired speech, problems writing, drawing or naming, lack of recognition, spatial disorders, and eye-hand coordination issues may be observed in patients with this condition [8].

Ultrastructural studies can also provide definitive evidence of ependymomas, especially in poorly differentiated cases [9].

Treatment Options for Parietal Lobe Ependymoma

Parietal lobe ependymomas are rare brain tumors that can be challenging to treat. While surgery is often the primary treatment, drug therapy may also play a role in managing this condition.

• Surgery: The first line of treatment for parietal lobe ependymoma is surgical removal of the tumor, if possible. This approach has been shown to improve survival rates [4].
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy may be used as an adjunct to surgery or as a standalone treatment in cases where the tumor is recurrent or cannot be completely removed. However, chemotherapy's role in treating ependymomas is limited, and it may only be beneficial in certain situations [2][8].

Types of Chemotherapy

While chemotherapy is not often used to treat ependymoma, there are some medications that have been explored for their potential benefits:

• Temozolomide (Temodar): This medication has been used to treat various types of brain tumors, including gliomas. However, its effectiveness in treating ependymomas is unclear [6].
• Bevacizumab (Avastin): Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It has been used to treat various types of cancer, including brain tumors. However, its role in treating ependymomas is still being researched [6].

Other Treatment Options

In addition to surgery and chemotherapy, other treatment options may be considered on a case-by-case basis:

• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy may be used to treat ependymoma, especially if the tumor cannot be completely removed surgically. However, this approach can have significant side effects [3][10].
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy involves using medications to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. This approach is still being researched for its potential benefits in treating ependymomas.

References

[1] Aug 20, 2024 — The first treatment for an ependymoma is surgery, if possible. [2] Chemotherapy unfortunately has only a minor role in these tumors, and may be most useful in the treating of recurrent ependymoma. [3] by G Lombardi · 2021 · Cited by 9 — Local therapy with surgery and radiotherapy represents the most effective treatment while systemic chemotherapy should be used in recurrent ... [4] Sep 21, 2021 — Surgery is the initial treatment for ependymoma. Patients with total or near total resections have significantly better survival rates. [5] Chemotherapy is drug treatment for cancers or tumors. [6] The drugs most commonly used to treat brain tumors are temozolomide (Temodar) and bevacizumab (Avastin). [7] Apr 21, 2023 — Chemotherapy

Parietal Lobe Ependymoma Differential Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for a parietal lobe ependymoma, a rare type of brain tumor, includes several conditions that can mimic its presentation. Here are some possible differential diagnoses:

• Oligodendroglioma: A type of glioma that is often found in the cerebral hemispheres, including the parietal lobe [10]. It can present with similar symptoms to ependymoma, such as seizures and cognitive decline.
• Ganglioglioma: A rare tumor that combines elements of both ganglion cells and glial cells. It can occur in the parietal lobe and may cause similar symptoms to ependymoma, including seizures and focal neurological deficits [10].
• Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor (DNET): A rare type of brain tumor that is often found in the cerebral hemispheres, including the parietal lobe. It can present with similar symptoms to ependymoma, such as seizures and cognitive decline [10].
• Supratentorial cortical mass lesions: Ependymoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for supratentorial cortical mass lesions in young patients [4]. This is because ependymomas can occur in the cerebral hemispheres, including the parietal lobe.

Clinical Presentation

Parietal lobe tumors, including ependymomas, can cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Impaired speech
• Problems writing, drawing or naming
• Lack of recognition
• Spatial disorders
• Eye-hand coordination problems [8]

Imaging Features

Ependymomas can be difficult to differentiate from other dural-based lesions on imaging studies [9]. However, they may show characteristic features such as:

• A well-circumscribed mass lesion with a cystic component
• Calcifications or hemorrhage within the tumor
• Enhancement of the tumor after contrast administration

Conclusion

The differential diagnosis for parietal lobe ependymoma is broad and includes several conditions that can mimic its presentation. Accurate diagnosis requires careful consideration of clinical presentation, imaging features, and histopathological findings.

References:

[8] Parietal lobe tumors may cause: impaired speech; problems writing, drawing or naming; lack of recognition; spatial disorders and eye-hand coordination. [9] Radiographically, extra-axial ependymomas can be difficult to differentiate from other dural-based lesions as was in our case. The lesion in our case mimicked a ... [10] The differential diagnosis for these cortical based tumors includes oligodendroglioma, ganglioglioma and Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithial Tumor ( ...). [4] To make a proper differential diagnosis on supratentorial cortical mass lesions in a young patient, ependymoma should be considered as a ... [7] This article briefly reviews ependymal cell development and conventional ependymomas, the pathologic findings and clinical behavior of tumors with variable ...