Tumors of the lateral ventricles

Effect comparison of neuroendoscopy versus microsurgery in the treatment of lateral ventricular tumors

PURPOSE

We sought to reveal the clinical characteristics of lateral ventricle tumors and to evaluate the superior surgical procedure available.

METHODS

There involved a total of of 49 adult patients harboring lateral ventricle tumors in neurosurgery department of our hospital from January 2016 to March 2022. The patients enrolled were retrospectively analyzed, so are their clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics and surgical strategies. The patients were allocated into neuroendoscope group (11 cases) and microsurgery group (38 cases) according to the operation method. The two groups underwent a detailed evaluation of operation effectiveness and safety profile (operation time, intraoperative bleeding, surgical resection rate, postoperative complications) and economic indicators (postoperative hospital stay, hospital costs).

RESULTS

The neuroendoscope group demonstrated a markedly shorter operation time than the microsurgery group (p<0.05), with the amount of bleeding significantly less than the microsurgery group (p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the resection rate and postoperative complications between the two groups (p>0.05). Significant difference was found in the economic indicators (postoperative hospital stay and hospital costs) of the patients in the neuroendoscope group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Surgery intervention is regarded as the core treatment option for lateral ventricle tumors. Both microsurgery and neuroendoscopy are effective with safety profile. In the selected lateral ventricle tumor surgery, the application of neuroendoscopic surgery showed promising results, in terms of less intraoperative bleeding, and shorter operation time, postoperative hospital stays, and hospital costs. The selection of surgical approach and methods for lateral ventricle tumors is principally depended on the experience of neurosurgeon concerning the surgical approach and related neuroanatomy.

MICROSURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF A RARE INCIDENTAL INTRAVENTRICULAR MENINGIOMA: A CASE REPORT AND RELEVANT LITERATURE REVIEW

Intraventricular meningiomas are rare and make up between 0.5% and 3% of all intracranial meningiomas, representing one of the most challenging tumors in neurosurgery due to their difficult location. Being initially asymptomatic, such tumors usually attain large size before clinical presentation and diagnostic detection. Available literature concerned with their surgical management remains scarce. Herein, we present a case of microsurgical resection of incidental intraventricular meningioma in a 32-year-old female patient who was admitted to the hospital due to the sudden loss of consciousness, retrograde amnesia, and nausea following a head trauma. Routine brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an irregular expansive formation located in the occipital horn of the right lateral ventricle showing heterogeneous contrast enhancement. The patient underwent right-side temporal osteoplastic craniotomy with total tumor microsurgical resection followed by external ventricular drainage, and recovered fully afterwards. Histopathologic analysis of tumor tissue samples confirmed the tumor as meningioma WHO grade I. Postoperative brain computed tomography confirmed complete tumor resection. In conclusion, intraventricular meningiomas are rather rare extra-axial tumors and may present with various symptoms depending on their size and difficult location. The development of most modern neuroimaging methods offers the opportunity of their precise and accurate diagnosis, better surgical planning, and favorable outcome. Microsurgical gross resection utilizing intraoperative neuromonitoring and cutting-edge neurosurgical armamentarium remains the treatment of choice for these location-challenging and surgically demanding, predominantly benign intracranial tumors.

Tumors of the lateral and third ventricle: surgical management and outcome analysis in 42 cases

Objectives:

To discuss the clinical presentation, pathological diagnosis, and surgical outcome for a series of 42 consecutive patients treated for lateral and third ventricular tumors.

Methods:

This is a retrospective series study conducted between 2001 and 2015 and included 42 patients (mean age: 25 years; range: 2 months-65 years) with lateral and third ventricle tumors surgically treated at King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Demographic, clinical, radiological, surgical, histopathological, and follow up data were analyzed.

Results:

The most common symptoms at presentation included headache (69%), nausea/vomiting (38%), visual deficits (24%), and seizures (17%). Lesions were located in the lateral ventricle in 15 patients, third ventricle in 20 patients, and involved both the lateral and third ventricles in 7 patients. The most common tumor types in the overall cohort were colloid cysts (n=6) and pineal tumors (n=6). The postoperative complication rate was 36%. The most common postoperative complications were seizure and hydrocephalus (n=5 each, 12%). Surgical mortality was 5%.

Conclusion:

The selection of the surgical approach for intraventricular tumor resection is fundamentally dependent on the surgeon’s experience and preference. We recommend that this decision be based on the anatomic considerations that provide the best and safest access to the mass, rather than on the risk of seizure following transcortical approach.

Microsurgical resection of tumors of the lateral and third ventricles: operative corridors for difficult-to-reach lesions

Tumors of the lateral and third ventricles are cradled on all sides by vital vascular and eloquent neural structures. Microsurgical resection, which always requires attentive planning, plays a critical role in the contemporary management of these lesions. This article provides an overview of the open microsurgical approaches to the region highlighting key clinical perspectives.

Quantifying sulcal and gyral topography in relation to deep seated and ventricular lesions: cadaveric study for basing surgical approaches and review of literature

OBJECTIVE

Numerical implication of sulcal and gyral topography for surgical approaches has not been studied.

METHODS

Percentage gain of distance using sulci as compared to that of gyri was calculated by measuring distances toward the ventricles in 15 hemispheres.

RESULTS

Superior frontal sulcus was closest proving greater than 50% gain in distance compared to superior frontal gyrus; inferior temporal sulcus provided greater gain in the temporal lobe.

CONCLUSION

Sulci provide upto 58% distance gain. For trans-gyral approaches, MFG and ITG were found closer to the respective ventricular area.

Paediatric intraventricular meningiomas. A report of two cases

Meningiomas are rare in children comprising less than 3% of paediatric brain tumours and only 1.5-1.8% of all intracranial neoplasms. Intraventricular meningiomas (IVM) account for 0.5-5% of all meningiomas. They arise in the ventricles from arachnoid cap cells contained within the choroid plexus, the tela choroidea, or the velum interpositum. Paediatric tumours also show an association with neurofibromatosis type 2 and previous radiation exposure.We present two cases of intraventricular meningiomas, both in children. The age and site of the lesion in the two cases are uncommon. Excision of the lesions caused a total subsidence of the symptoms with no reported recurrences.

Intraventricular meningiomas: a clinicopathological study and review of the literature

Object

Intraventricular meningiomas are rare tumors. The origin of these tumors can be traced to embryological invagination of arachnoid cells into the choroid plexus. The authors analyzed data that they had collected to study the clinicopathological aspects and review the origin, presentation, imaging, and management of these tumors.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis, the authors describe the cases of 12 patients who had received a diagnosis of intraventricular meningioma and underwent surgery for the tumors. Nine of these patients were men and three were women. Features of neurofibromatosis Type 2 were present in two of the women. Nine of the tumors were located in the lateral ventricles, one was in the third ventricle, and two were in the fourth ventricle. Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) was the universal presentation in all the patients, and the preoperative diagnoses were confirmed on neuroimaging studies. Excision was performed using the parietooccipital (trigonal) approach for lateral ventricle tumors, the transcortical–transventricular route for the third ventricle tumor, and suboccipital craniectomy for fourth ventricle tumors. Postoperatively, one patient died and the others experienced resolution of their symptoms. Histopathological features of these tumors were similar to those seen in meningiomas in other locations.

Conclusions

Intraventricular meningiomas are slow-growing tumors that become large prior to detection. Although they are commonly seen in the lateral ventricles, they occur in the third and fourth ventricles as well. Presentation is in the form of raised ICP with no localizing features; therefore the diagnosis is based on imaging studies. Hydrocephalus occurs due to obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Excision requires planning to avoid eloquent cortex incision. The histopathological features are varied, although most of the tumors in the study were angiomatous meningiomas. These tumors are no different histologically from tumors that are dural in origin. No recurrence has been reported.

Intraventricular meninigiomas: a report of 25 cases

In order to study the clinical characteristics of intraventricular meningiomas, we analyzed retrospectively 25 patients and reviewed the literature with regard to incidence, clinical manifestation, imaging features, preoperative diagnosis, surgical findings, and histopathological results. Intraventricular meningiomas are quite rare, but they represent an important differential diagnosis of intraventricular neoplasms. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging enable a correct diagnosis of intraventricular meningiomas in most of the cases. The tumors often grow slowly to a substantial size before they become symptomatic. The operative route should be selected according to the tumor's location. Out of the 24 lateral ventricular meningiomas in our series, 20 were resected via a posterior parieto-occipital transcortical approach, two were resected via a transcallosal approach, and another two tumors, located in the frontal horn and body of the lateral ventricle, were resected via a frontal approach. A median suboccipital craniotomy was performed for the fourth ventricular meningioma. The parieto-occipital route for lateral ventricular meningiomas is a safe surgical approach, which is not necessarily associated with postoperative visual deficits. Piecemeal removal of the tumor can be safely and easily performed and special attention should be paid to the choroidal vessels intraoperatively.

Lateral Ventricle Tumors: Surgical Strategies According to Tumor Origin and Development— A Series of 72 Cases

OBJECTIVE:

Optimal surgical management in lateral ventricle tumors remains controversial. We conducted a retrospective study of patients with these lesions treated with a surgical strategy on the basis of tumor origin: primary or secondary ventricular and associated transependymal development.

METHODS:

A total of 72 patients underwent surgery for lateral ventricle tumors. The mean patient age was 39 years (range, 6 mo to 78 yr). Raised intracranial pressure occurred in 53% of patients, followed by mental disturbances or psychiatric symptoms (32%) and motor deficits (21%). The transcortical approach was used in 44 patients, and an interhemispheric approach was used in 28 patients; a transcallosal approach was used in 16 patients, and a parasplenial approach was used in 12 patients. Neuropsychological tests were performed in selected patients.

RESULTS:

Total resection was performed in 82% of patients. Sixty-five percent of tumors were benign and low-grade tumors. There was no surgical mortality, and the morbidity rate was 11%. Postoperative epilepsy (5.9%) was significantly increased in the transcortical group. The mean follow-up period was 55 months; 59% of patients achieved good recovery and moderate disability. In postoperative neuropsychological testing sessions, deficits in verbal memory were observed in six patients (8%). Final morbidity correlated well with preoperative clinical condition and pathological diagnosis.

CONCLUSION:

Lateral ventricle tumors can be treated best by careful selection of the approach according to tumor origin and development. Overall, the transcallosal approach is preferred, but in patients with transependymal growth or large primary or secondary ventricular tumors, the transcortical is a better option.

Surgical approaches to tumors of the lateral ventricle

Lateral ventricular tumors are rare lesions of the central nervous system, and because most tumors are benign or low grade, permanent cure can be achieved with complete removal. After adequate preoperative imaging discloses a lateral ventricular mass, the neurosurgeon has several options to choose from when determining the ideal surgical approach to the tumor. The surgical approach cannot be standardized, because the specific location, size, and vascularization of these deep-seated tumors are fundamental elements influencing the choice of surgical approach. Although access to the lateral ventricles may require additional preoperative considerations and planning, the combination of proper knowledge of the cortical and intraventricular anatomy with the familiarity and selection of an appropriate surgical approach will optimize the surgical outcome.

Surgery of tumours of the lateral ventricle

Tumours of the lateral ventricle in most cases enlarge significantly before signs and symptoms are exhibited. In the years between 1980 and 1991 we encountered 55 patients of all age groups with tumours of the lateral ventricle. All were diagnosed either by CT or MRI, and in lesions with good enhancement on CT additional angiography was performed. All 55 tumours were operated upon using microsurgical techniques. The approach was chosen according to the location of the tumour, preferably transcortical. In selected cases large tumours were removed in a two-stage operation. Only in one frontal horn and Cella media tumour an interhemispheric transcallosal approach was used. Postoperative or surgically related mortality was experienced in 3 cases. Life expectancy and morbidity were dependent upon histology.

The transcallosal approach for lesions affecting the lateral and third ventricles. Surgical considerations and results in a series of 42 cases

The study was carried out on a series of 42 patients who underwent surgery through a midline approach. Lesions were in the anterior part of the third ventricle in 32 cases, in the frontal horns in 6, in the trigone in 3, and in both lateral and third ventricles in 1 case. The third ventricle was approached through Monro's foramen in 22 cases and through an interfornicial route in 9 cases. Surgical mortality occurred in 2 cases (5%). Permanent morbidity occurred in another 2 cases (5%): it consisted of slight intellectual deterioration in one case and slight fixed pyramidal signs in the other. Transient mutism was the most frequently observed postoperative complication. Thirty-one patients were reviewed and submitted to neuropsychological tests in the late postoperative period to investigate the presence of intellectual deterioration or disturbances in the interhemispheric transfer of motor, somataesthetic and visual information. All patients showed only the presence of short-term memory disturbance. Furthermore, 12 patients tested before surgery also showed the presence of short-term memory deficits in the preoperative period. We conclude that a midline approach is the most direct and safe route to the third ventricle as well as to the frontal horns and trigone.

Brain resection for exposure of deep extracerebral and paraventricular lesions

In exposing deep extracerebral or paraventricular lesions, it sometimes may be preferable to resect a small amount of noneloquent brain tissue rather than retract the brain. This may be the case in carefully selected instances when, in the surgeon's estimate, brain retraction may result in significant parenchymal damage, in aneurysmal rupture, or in damage to important bridging veins. Some surgical approaches involving brain resection have been well described. This technical note discusses the following approaches that, though undoubtedly used by many surgeons sporadically, have received less formal attention: (1) anterior-inferior temporal resection for basilar aneurysms, (2) posterior-inferior temporal resection to approach the posterior incisura and avoid damage to the vein of Labbé, (3) parahippocampal resection to expose the posterior cerebral artery in the ambient cistern, (4) paramedial posterior parietal incision to approach the trigone of the lateral ventricle, (5) parasagittal resection to expose the interhemispheric fissure and avoid damage to bridging veins, (6) cingulate resection for pericallosal aneurysms, and (7) tonsillar resection for aneurysms of the peripheral portion of the posterior-inferior cerebellar arteries.

Supratentorial intraventricular tumors in childhood

We report on a series of 21 infants and children with tumors of the supratentorial ventricular system, all of whom were assessed by computed tomography and underwent operation using microsurgical techniques. In 7 cases the tumor was found in the 3rd ventricle, whereas the lateral ventricles were involved in the others. Surgical access to the lateral ventricles and the anterior portion of the 3rd ventricle was gained by standard intergyral cortical incision in the precentral or postcentral regions and via the foramen of Monro. The posterior portions of the lateral ventricle of the dominant hemisphere as well as the posterior part of the 3rd ventricle were exposed with minimal risk, using the occipital midsagittal supratentorial route. Following this technique, total removal of the tumors was possible in all cases without substantial postoperative morbidity. After a follow-up period of 6 months to 9 years all patients are in good or excellent neurological condition. Tumor recurrences were not encountered, although a definitive statement cannot be made in some patients with malignant lesions.