Supratentorial lobar ependymomas: reports on the grading and survival periods in 80 cases, including 46 recurrences.

We report 80 supratentorial lobar ependymomas, including 46 recurrences. All underwent operation. In the total collection 34.5% survived for more than 5 years. The behaviour of children and adults was nearly identical. Based on a histological grading into three steps of malignancy (E1, E2, E3), the ependymomas in low grade 1 showed a 5 years' survival time of 41.5%. Compared to a 28.5% survival in group E2 at the same time. Results in group E3, which histologically resembled malignant glioma or glioblastoma, are not relevant because of the small number of cases. More than 50% of the E1 recurrences showed transformation to E2. No transformation into a lower grade of malignancy has been observed.