Background: Ependymomas rarely disseminate to other central nervous system areas distant from the original site. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) provides high control rates for recurring ependymomas. The treatment of optic nerve tumors carries high morbidity, but SRS is an acceptable option to manage these cases to reduce risks.
Observations: The authors report the case of a 31-year-old male with a cervical spinal ependymoma who had a disseminated pattern of recurrence including the optic nerve after initial resection of the cervical lesion. The optic nerve tumor was treated with SRS, and the authors discuss the technical aspects of the treatment and its outcomes. At the last follow-up, the optic nerve tumor was controlled with SRS, and visual function was preserved.
Lessons: High-grade ependymomas such as the one in the presented case can have unpredictable patterns of recurrence. SRS provides excellent control of the distant recurring ependymoma with a low complication profile given the location of the tumor in this case.
Keywords: anaplastic ependymoma; optic nerve; stereotactic radiosurgery.