Objective  To study the factors affecting the survival and prognosis of patients with intracranial ependymoma.

  Methods  From January 2008 to January 2018, the prognoses of 276 patients with intracranial ependymoma were analyzed using Log-rank and Cox model analysis.The variables included sex, age, tumor location, tumor diameter, resection extent, pathological grade, Ki-67 index, postoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative chemotherapy.

  Results  Tumor location, resection extent, and postoperative radiotherapy could all affect the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with intracranial ependymoma (P<0.001) and independently affected the OS (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P =0.002, respectively) and PFS (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.001, respectively). The Ki-67 index was an independent factor affecting PFS in patients with intracranial ependymoma (P<0.001).The supratentorial location and Ki-67 index ≥10% were independent risk factors indicating poor prognosis (P<0.001).Total resection and postoperative radiotherapy were protective factors (P<0.001 and P =0.001, respectively).

  Conclusions  Tumor location, resection extent, Ki-67 index, and postoperative radiotherapy are independent factors affecting the prognosis of intracranial ependymoma.It is helpful to extend the PFS and OS of patients through complete tumor resection or postoperative radiotherapy.