EPENDYMOMAS AND CHOROID PLEXUS PAPILLOMAS

Abstract

72 cases of ependymoma and 11 of papilloma of the choroid plexus were studied. The classification of these tumors into 3 sub-groups, cellular, papillary and epithelial, is justified from a descriptive point of view but is not in accord with biologic considerations. The view of Kernohan and others that ependymomas containing a few epithelial formations have a more favorable prognosis than tumors of a strictly cellular or papillary structure was not substantiated. The authors consider that ependymomas and choroidal papillomas present important differences in histologic structure and biologic characteristics which makes it necessary to consider them as two distinct types of tumors. In each one of these groups are to be found benign as well as malignant tumors, called respectively ependymoma and malignant ependymoma, and papilloma and epithelioma choroideum.