ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about the number of children and teens who are diagnosed with ependymoma each year. You will also read some general information on surviving the disease. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. Use the menu to see other pages.

Ependymoma occurs most often in young children, accounting for about 5% of all childhood brain cancers. Approximately 250 children and teens under the age of 19 in the United States will be diagnosed with ependymoma this year.

The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of children and teens live at least 5 years after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The 5-year survival rate for children and teens with ependymoma from birth to age 19 is almost 79%,

It is important to remember that statistics on the survival rates for children and teens with ependymoma are an estimate. The estimate comes from annual data based on the number of children with this cancer in the United States. Also, experts measure the survival statistics every 5 years. This means the estimate may not reflect the results of advancements in how ependymoma in children and teens is diagnosed or treated from the last 5 years. Talk with your child’s doctor if you have any questions about this information. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Statistics adapted from the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2014–2018 (published October 2021) and the American Cancer Society website. (All sources accessed January 2022.)

The next section in this guide is Medical Illustrations. It offers drawings of body parts often affected by ependymoma. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.