8-10% of intracranial neoplasms in children are ependymomas.
Just under 200 cases are diagnosed every year in the United States.
These tumors arise from the neuro-epithelial lining of the ventricles and spinal canal. Among the most common of the intraventricular tumors (along with choroid plexus tumors and colloid cysts).
Bimodal age distribution. The first peak is for children under 5 years old and the second for adults between the ages of 20-40 years.
Younger children, less than 3-5 years, have a less favorable outcome, particularly in posterior fossa ependymomas.
Frequency of Ependymomas & Tumor Features:
| Proportion of Pediatric Neoplasms | 8-10% |
Median Age, at diagnosis (all ependymomas) |
22 years |
| Median Age, pediatric ependymomas | 3-4 years |
| Pediatric Patients < 5 years | 60% |
| Pediatric Patients > 15 years | 4% |
| Racial Bias | None |
| Gender Bias | 3:2 (female predominance) |
