A giant solid cystic inferior fourth ventricle subependymoma

Abstract

Subependymomas are a rare subtype of ependymomas, slow growing WHO grade I tumors that develop either intracranial from the subependymal glial precursor cells layer of the ventricles or intramedullary. These tumors originate in the undifferentiated Subependymal layer of cells that can become either ependymocytes or astrocytes. Most of the subependymomas are located inside the fourth ventricle (50-60%). We reviewed the case of a 40 years old woman with a giant solid cystic fourth ventricle ependymoma. The patient underwent total resection of the tumor through a subociipital transvermian approach. We discussed the characteristics of these benign tumors and reviewed the literature on this subject and concluded that total resection is the treatment of choice for symptomatic Subependymomas localized in posterior fossa.

Keywords

• subependymoma
• giant
• solid cystic
• fourth ventricle