National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Myxopapillary ependymoma


Myxopapillary ependymoma (MEPN) is a slow-growing ependymoma (a type of glioma, which is a tumor that arises from the supportive tissue of the brain and spinal cord).[1] They tend to occur in the lower part of the spinal column and are usually considered to be benign, low-grade or grade I tumors.[2] The age of diagnosis ranges from 6 to 82 years. Symptoms of an ependymoma are related to the location and size of the tumor and may include nausea, vomiting, headache, pain, numbness, bowel or bladder symptoms, and various other signs and symptoms. The cause of ependymomas is unknown.[2] They are known to recur locally (more commonly in individuals diagnosed in childhood).[3][1] Treatment may vary depending on the location, grade, and whether the tumor has spread to the spine,[2] but typically includes aggressive surgery.[1] Management may also include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.[3]
Last updated: 4/13/2015
Standard treatment of myxopapillary ependymoma is surgery with the aim of removing as much of the tumor as possible. This tumor type may be cured if all of the tumor is removed during surgery, which is referred to as total resection, and there is usually a favorable outlook in these cases. However, surgery is typically less curative in tumors that are large, multifocal or extend outside the spinal cord. These tumors have the potential to regrow after the initial diagnosis and surgery (recur), particularly in individuals diagnosed as children.[1] Following surgery, radiation therapy may be considered to destroy any cancer cells that could remain in the body.  The use of chemotherapy as another treatment of myxopapillary ependymoma remains controversial; chemotherapy has been widely used in pediatric individuals due to more aggressive disease.[4] The usefulness of additional therapies following surgery is unclear for the subset of individuals with recurrence or in individuals in whom total resection cannot be achieved.[1]
Last updated: 4/13/2015

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Myxopapillary ependymoma. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Myxopapillary ependymoma. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • I was diagnosed with a myxopapillary ependymoma and plan to have surgery. What factors will increase the chance of having a good surgical outcome? Also, what is the success rate of the surgery to remove the ependymoma? And what is the death rate? See answer

  • My wife was diagnosed by MRI with probable myxopapillary ependymoma. The specialist is recommending surgery; are there any other treatment options? See answer


  1. Valerie N Barton et al. Unique Molecular Characteristics of Pediatric Myxopapillary Ependymoma. Brain Pathology. May 2010; 20(3):560-570. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871180/?tool=pubmed. Accessed 4/7/2011.
  2. Ependymoma. American Brain Tumor Association. http://www.abta.org/siteFiles/pdflibrary/ABTA_Ependymoma_Pamph_7%202%2010.pdf. Accessed 4/7/2011.
  3. Jeffrey N Bruce. Ependymoma. Medscape. January 26, 2009; http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/465375_2. Accessed 4/7/2011.
  4. Shonka NA. Targets for therapy in ependymoma. Targeted Oncology. March 29, 2011; Epub:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21445635. Accessed 4/7/2011.