Ependymoblastoma is an aggressive and rare tumor of the central nervous system, which is detected mainly in childhood, including in newborns. Doctors in Germany successfully deal with the treatment of this disease at any age. German neurosurgeons perform safe operations to completely remove the neoplasm. To reduce the risk of recurrence, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used. In severe cases, bone marrow transplant may become an option of choice.
Content
- What is ependymoblastoma
- Surgical treatment
- Radiation therapy
- Stem cell transplant
Ependymoblastoma treatment involves the use of neurosurgical operations, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In severe cases, doctors resort to high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.
You can undergo treatment in the following hospitals: the Charite University Hospital Berlin, the University Hospital Muenster, the University Hospital Freiburg.
If you are planning to travel to Germany, please leave your treatment request on the Booking Health website in advance. We will help you choose a clinic and a doctor, organize an appointment in the coming dates, draw up a preliminary treatment program, help with obtaining a visa, flight and accommodation. During treatment, you will be accompanied by an interpreter, and the medical coordinator will remain in touch with you until you return home.
What is ependymoblastoma
Ependymoblastoma is a rare brain tumor. It is a subtype of primitive neuroectodermal tumors classified as grade IV according to the World Health Organization classification of tumors of the central nervous system.
Ependymoblastomas are often located in the supratentorial region and are associated with the ventricular system of the brain. They are found predominantly in children. Neoplasms are detected in the brain in most cases, but other localizations are also possible. These may be the sacrococcygeal region, the area between the rectum and the vagina, or the ovaries.
Surgical treatment
In most cases, ependymoblastoma treatment in Germany begins with surgery. Doctors remove the neoplasm completely. Total resection is a necessary condition for a long life of patients, since the tumor is highly aggressive. After the operation, additional treatment is usually required.
Neurosurgical interventions in Germany are safe and successful even in infants. Doctors use cutting-edge neuronavigation systems, powerful surgical microscopes, and modern instruments. Whenever required, intraoperative ultrasound diagnostics or MRI, as well as functional examinations, are performed. They help the doctor to remove the tumor, avoiding damage to the functionally important areas of the brain. As a result, the risk of developing neurological complications is reduced to a minimum.
After the operation, patients undergo rehabilitation. It helps restore impaired brain function. For children, rehabilitation is especially important, as it helps to avoid delays in physical and intellectual development.
Some patients may repeatedly develop hydrocephalus after surgery. Additional interventions are required to eliminate it. In Germany, they are minimally invasive: usually it is an endoscopic ventriculocisternostomy. It can be performed even in children of the first months of life. After the completion of the main stages of anticancer treatment, patients undergo a ventriculoatrial shunt implantation to achieve a permanent reduction in intracranial pressure.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the second most important treatment for most patients with ependymoblastoma. It can be used in the following cases:
- After surgery, to reduce the risk of recurrence.
- For tumor control in patients not undergoing surgery.
- To suppress a recurrent tumor if it has returned after surgery.
Adjuvant (postoperative) radiation therapy is required for all patients, even if the tumor has been completely removed. It reduces the risk of relapse and prolongs the relapse-free period. The exception is for infants. Brain irradiation is unsafe for them as it slows down the development. Therefore, doctors prefer chemotherapy for adjuvant treatment.
Stem cell transplant
One of the most effective treatments for ependymoblastoma in children is high-dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous bone marrow transplant.
High doses of chemotherapy drugs effectively destroy cancer cells. At the same time, they are too toxic for the bone marrow, which cannot recover after such intensive treatment. This problem is solved by the stem cell transplant. Stem cells are harvested before the start of anticancer treatment. After its completion, the stem cells are injected to the patient intravenously. They migrate to the bone marrow, after which the hematopoietic system is gradually restored.
Stem cell transplant is a high-tech and expensive treatment for ependymoblastoma. The procedure provides good results: after its conduction, patients experience remission of the oncological disease, which lasts for several years. The treatment method works even in the most severe cases, for example, when the tumor recurs after the initial treatment or does not respond to standard therapy.
If you are going to have ependymoblastoma treatment in one of the clinics in Germany, the Booking Health service will be helpful. Here you can find out what is the price for treatment and book a medical program at the best price. The website shows the actual prices that are valid at the moment. After booking the program, the cost of medical services for you will definitely not increase since all unplanned expenses will be covered by insurance. The Booking Health specialists will help you choose the most suitable clinic and organize your trip.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
National Library of Medicine
Healthline
