METHOD: We report 33 patients with spinal cord ependymomas who had been operated on at the Department of Neurosurgery of Ankara University School of Medicine between 1990 and 2002.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 43.6 (range: 13 to 74). Nineteen patients were female (57%) and 14 were male (43%). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 45 weeks (range: 30 to 122 weeks). Radical surgical resection was performed in 30 patients (91%) and conservative surgery in 3 (10%) patients. Postoperative radiotherapy was applied in 4 patients.

CONCLUSION: Although spinal cord ependymomas are mostly amenable to total resection, tumor locations and surgical techniques affect the morbidity. Surgical treatment in patients in whom the spinal tumor was diagnosed in early stages according to McCormick classification is useful to improve the neurological deficits. Radiotherapy must be reserved for the patients who underwent subtotal resection or in whom recurrence was detected. Keywords : Spinal cord, Ependymoma, Surgery