Flexible Neuroendoscopic Diagnosis and Management of Ventricular Tumors: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
Ventricular tumors (VTs) represent approximately 10% of intracranial lesions and are associated with hydrocephalus in 73.9%-100% of patients. We present our experience using flexible neuroendoscopy as a diagnostic and hydrocephalus-related treatment strategy for paraventricular and intraventricular tumors.


METHODS
This retrospective cohort included 27 pediatric and 21 adult patients with paraventricular or intraventricular tumors treated with flexible neuroendoscopy. Terminally ill patients and patients with incomplete data were excluded.


RESULTS
Male and female patients comprised 52% and 48% of the population, respectively. Mean patient age was 20.45 years (±18.65 SD). The most common tumor location was the thalamic and pineal region. Conclusive pathologic diagnosis was obtained in 40 patients (83.3%); the most common type of tumor was astrocytoma. Hydrocephalus was present in 38 (79.1%) patients, who were treated successfully with endoscopic procedures. There were no major complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Flexible neuroendoscopy is a strategic tool for diagnosis of VTs, especially in patients with associated hydrocephalus and VTs unreachable by other means. Flexible neuroendoscopy has a high rate of definitive diagnosis with low associated complications. More studies evaluating the long-term efficacy of flexible neuroendoscopy for hydrocephalus associated with VTs are needed.
['Torres-Corzo|Jaime Gerardo|JG|', 'Islas-Aguilar|Mario Alberto|MA|', 'Cerecedo-López|Christian Daniel|CD|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D006801:Humans D006849:Hydrocephalus D008297:Male D044583:Neuroendoscopy D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures D012189:Retrospective Studies D020542:Third Ventricle D016896:Treatment Outcome D014696:Ventriculostomy D055815:Young Adult
Ventricular tumors Hydrocephalus Neuroendoscopy Endoscopic third ventriculostomy