SOFT-TISSUE EPENDYMOMA - A REPORT OF 3 CASES

Soft-tissue ependymomas are rare tumours, most often occurring dorsal to the sacrum or coccyx, or in a presacral location. There is a wide age range-children as well as adults are affected. The clinical diagnosis is often that of a pilonidal sinus. Histologically, these tumours are usually of the myxopapillary type. They may recur locally, and up to 20% have been reported to produce distant metastases, most often in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver or bone. There appear to be no clinical or histological features that allow prediction of those tumours likely to metastasize. Approximately 50 cases have been described in the medical literature1,2. We report three additional cases.