Posterior cranial fossa tumors: Results and prognostic factors in a consecutive series of 14 operated patients by occipital transtentorial approach

The occipital interhemispheric transtentorial approach in infants and toddlers: efficacy and complications

INTRODUCTION

Outcomes for pineal region and superior cerebellar tumors in young children often hinge on extent of microsurgical resection, and thus choosing an approach that provides adequate visualization of pathology is essential. The occipital interhemispheric transtentorial (OITT) approach provides excellent exposure while minimizing cerebellar retraction. However, this approach has not been widely accepted as a viable option for very young children due to concerns for potential blood loss when incising the tentorium. The aim of this paper is to characterize our recent institutional experience with the occipital interhemispheric transtentorial approach (OITT) for tumor resection in infants and toddlers.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed between 2016 and 2023 of pediatric patients less than 36 months of age who underwent OITT for tumor resection at a high-volume referral center. Patients with at least 3 months of postoperative follow-up and postoperative MRI were included. Primary outcomes included extent of resection, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and neurologic outcome. Secondary outcomes included length of stay and estimated blood loss.

RESULTS

Eight patients, five male, were included. The median age at the time of surgery was 10 months (range 5-36 months). Presenting symptoms included macrocephaly, nausea/vomiting, strabismus, gait instability, or milestone regression. Hydrocephalus was present preoperatively in all patients. Average tumor volume was 38.6 cm3, ranging from 1.3 to 71.9 cm3. All patients underwent an OITT approach for tumor resection with stereotactic guidance. No intraoperative complications occurred, and no permanent neurologic deficits developed postoperatively. Gross total resection was achieved in all cases per postoperative MRI report, and no instances of new cerebellar, brainstem, or occipital lobe ischemia were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

OITT approach for tumor resection in very young children (≤ 36 months) is an effective strategy with an acceptable safety profile. In our series, no significant intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing this technique specifically in patients less than 36 months of age.

Pineal Apoplexy: Highlighting the Causes, Treatment, and Outcome

BACKGROUND

 Pineal apoplexy, alternatively referred to as pineal hemorrhage or pineal gland hemorrhagic stroke, is an infrequent pathologic condition characterized by bleeding within the pineal gland. In this review, we encompass the primary factors contributing to this uncommon ailment.

METHODS

 The retrieval of pertinent research, including patients with pineal apoplexy, was conducted through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. This study exclusively incorporated comprehensive articles written in the English language. The search encompassed the MeSH terms "pineal apoplexy" and "pineal hemorrhage."

RESULTS

 A total of 41 articles were identified, encompassing a collective sample size of 57 patients. The median age of the patients in the study was 30 years, with a range spanning from 1 to 73 years. There were 27 males, representing 47.4% of the participants. The study identified the most often reported symptoms as headache (49; 86%), nausea/vomiting (19; 33.3%), and Parinaud's syndrome (16; 28.1%). The treatment options encompass several approaches, including open resection, shunting, ventriculostomy, endoscopic aspiration, and conservative care. In the conducted study, a notable number of patients, amounting to 45 cases (78.9%), indicated an amelioration of their symptoms upon their discharge.

CONCLUSION

 Data from a cohort of 57 cases provide insights into symptoms, lesions, treatments, and outcomes. Management approaches range from conservative measures to surgical interventions, with prognosis hinged on timely intervention. This investigation serves as a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers, underscoring the need for early diagnosis before permanent neurologic dysfunction happens and tailored treatments for optimal outcomes in pineal apoplexy cases.

Pediatric pineal region tumors: institutional experience of surgical managements with posterior interhemispheric transtentorial approach

PURPOSE

Resecting pineal region tumors in children is often challenging. Several approaches have been proposed and practiced. A personal series of pediatric pineal region tumors resected through craniotomy with posterior interhemispheric occipital transtentorial (OT) approach are reviewed. We present the surgical techniques, pitfalls, and their results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eighty patients ranging in age from 3 months to 21 years old, and treated over 3 decades were reviewed. Hydrocephalus caused the main presenting symptoms and was noted in 74 patients. It was treated prior to the craniotomy for tumor resection with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in 33, external ventricular drainage in 26, and precraniotomy shunt in 15. Nine patients had ETV together with endoscopic biopsy. All patients had a parieto-occipital craniotomy in a prone position. Through a tentorial section, a gross total resection of the tumor was attempted except for germinomas.

RESULTS

The tumor pathology showed 32 germ cell tumors (GCT), 22 benign astrocytomas, 13 pineal parenchymal tumors, 5 ATRTs, 3 papillary tumors, and 5 others. Of GCTs, 18 were teratomas. The extent of resection consisted of 55 gross total resections, 13 subtotal resections, 10 partial, and 2 biopsies with one postoperative death. Hemiparesis in 2, cerebellar ataxia in another 2, and hemiballismus in 1 were transient and improved over time. One had permanent hemisensory loss and another patient had bilateral oculomotor palsy. Postoperative homonymous hemianopia occurred in 2 patients but subsided over a short period of time. Parinaud's sign was noted in 24 patients, of which 16 were transient.

CONCLUSION

The posterior interhemispheric OT approach provides a safe route and comfortable access to the pineal region in children. A great majority of postoperative neurological complications are the results of direct manipulations of the midbrain at tumor resection. Identification and preservation of the tumor-brain interface are of paramount importance. GCTs other than teratomas are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and may eliminate the need for craniotomy. Exophytic midbrain JPAs are amenable to resection.

Falcotentorial Meningiomas: Optimal Surgical Planning and Intraoperative Challenges - Case Report and a Review

Meningiomas arising from the falcotentorial junction are rare, and the selection of the optimal surgical approach is essential. We report a falcotentorial meningioma (FTM) case approached by occipitotranstentorial resection and subtotal tumor resection presenting a satisfactory clinical outcome. The present review sought to reveal the current knowledge regarding the clinical presentation, radiological imaging, and the microsurgical anatomy of FTMs as a form of improving the surgical approach. The selection of the optimal surgical approach is essential for the safe and effective removal of an FTM. Preoperative imaging analysis should identify the anatomical relations of the tumor and guide toward the least disruptive route that preserves the neurovascular structures.

Endoscopic high occipital interhemispheric transtentorial approach for lesions in the anterosuperior cerebellum, upper fourth ventricle, and upper dorsal brain stem

BACKGROUND

The occipital transtentorial route is considered the most suitable for surgical treatment of lesions arising from the anterosuperior cerebellum, upper fourth ventricle, and upper dorsal brain stem. Therefore, this study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of the endoscopic high occipital interhemispheric transtentorial approach (EHOTA) for lesions in these areas, in achieving results comparable to the endoscopic OTA (EOTA). EOTA has recently been reported to be an effective procedure for pineal region tumors, having several advantages that include minimal invasiveness with a small entrance limiting the retraction of the occipital lobe, the elimination of blind spots, and the facilitation of fine manipulation due to the bright, magnified panoramic view.

METHODS

By using thirty clinical datasets of venous-phase head CT angiogram, measurements on images were performed and differences between EOTA and EHOTA were identified. In addition, the feasibility of EHOTA was verified with five cadaver heads.

RESULTS

Although the operative field via EHOTA was considered significantly deeper and less maneuverable than with the procedure via EOTA, beneficial angles for manipulation in the superior cerebellum and the fourth ventricle were obtained in EHOTA, on account of their becoming more obtuse. Using EHOTA, it was possible to reach those regions and effectively manipulate all ten sides of the five cadaveric heads, as well as a case with anterosuperior cerebellar cavernous angioma.

CONCLUSIONS

EHOTA, which has the same advantages as EOTA, could prove to be an efficacious procedure for lesions in the anterosuperior cerebellum, upper fourth ventricle, and upper dorsal brain stem.

Occipital transtentorial approach for pineal region lesions: Addressing the controversies in conventional teaching

BACKGROUND

The occipital transtentorial (OT) approach is well-established approach for pineal region tumors and can be of choice for the lesions located around the suboccipital part of tentorium such as the quadrigeminal plate, posterior part of thalamus, tentorial surface of cerebellum, splenial region, posterior falx, and lesions around the tentorial incisura. However, it is not very much extensively used in the above-mentioned locations other than the pineal region.

METHODS

Thirty-one patients of pineal region lesions were operated by OT approach, the role of conventional preoperative evaluation of the anatomy of the venous sinuses, deep venous system, and tentorial angle was investigated.

RESULTS

A variety of lesions were operated using this approach achieving gross and near total resection in majority of the cases (76.6%), with acceptable postoperative mean modified Rankin scales (1.8).

CONCLUSION

The OT is a preferable approach for pineal region lesions for patients of all ages and can be tailored for achieving high resectability rates irrespective of the status of the deep venous system and tentorial angle, with reasonable postoperative surgical outcome.

The role of radiosurgery in the acute management of fourth ventricle compression due to brain metastases

Background:

Approximately 20–30% of all intracranial metastases are located in the posterior fossa. The clinical evolution hinges on factors such as tumor growth dynamics, local topographic conditions, performance status, and prompt intervention. Fourth ventricle (V4) compression with secondary life-threatening obstructive hydrocephalus remains a major concern, often requiring acute surgical intervention. We have previously reported on the application of adaptive hypofractionated Gamma Knife Radiosurgery in the acute management of critically located metastases, a technique known to us as rapid rescue radiosurgery (3R). We report the results of 3R in the management of posterior fossa lesions and ensuing V4 decompression.

Case Descriptions:

Four patients with V4 compression due to posterior fossa metastases were treated with 3R by three separate gamma knife radiosurgical sessions (GKRS) over a period of seven days. Mean V4 volume was 1.02 cm³ at GKRS 1, 1.13 cm³ at GKRS 2, and 1.12 cm³ at GKRS 3. Mean tumor volume during the week of treatment was 10 cm³ at both GKRS 1 and 2 and 9 cm³ at GKRS 3. On average, we achieved a tumor volume reduction of 52% and a V4 size increase of 64% at the first follow-up (4 weeks after GKRS 3). Long-term follow-up showed continued local tumor control, stable V4 volume, and absence of hydrocephalus.

Conclusion:

For this series, 3R was effective in terms of rapid tumor ablation, V4 decompression, and limited radiation-induced toxicity. This surgical procedure may become an additional tool in the management of intractable posterior fossa metastasis with V4 compression.

A Single-Institution Experience with Pineal Region Tumors: 50 Tumors Over 1 Decade

BACKGROUND: Pineal region tumors are rare intracranial tumors that are more common in children than adults. Surgical management of tumors in this region using a tailored approach is a strategy that enhances extent of resection and neurological outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To review our institutional experience with pineal region tumors in children and adults over the past 10 years.

METHODS: Our institutional pathology database and patient records were retrospectively reviewed for details regarding clinical and radiological presentation, surgical management, extent of resection, morbidity, and neurological outcome. Statistical analysis was performed to assess for variables related to functional outcomes.

RESULTS: Fifty patients were identified as having undergone surgical management of a pineal region tumor with at least 1 year of follow-up. Forty-one percent presented with a Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score of 70 or less, all of whom had concomitant hydrocephalus that required urgent treatment. The following variables were statistically significant to KPS score on admission: age, tumor volume, preoperative hydrocephalus, length of hospitalization (total and intensive care unit), and elevations in serum tumor markers. The median postoperative (2 months) KPS score was 90. The following variables were statistically significant with respect to change in KPS score postoperatively: tumor maximum diameter, KPS score on admission, and intensive care unit length of stay. The specific surgical strategy did not correlate to extent of tumor resection, morbidity, immediate neurological outcome, and progression-free survival.

CONCLUSION: Extent of resection, neurological outcome, and progression-free survival in the patients in our series were not related to the specific surgical approach employed and its perioperative complications.

An overview of the current surgical options for pineal region tumors

BACKGROUND

The list of pineal region tumors comprises an extensive array of pathological entities originating within one of the most complex areas of the intracranial cavity. With the exception of germ cell tumors, microsurgical excision is still nowadays the mainstay of management for most pineal region tumors.

METHODS

A search of the medical literature was conducted for publications addressing surgical options for management of pineal region tumors.

RESULTS

The infratentorial supracerebellar and the occipital transtentorial approaches are currently the most frequently used approaches for pineal region tumors. Endoscopic tumor biopsy with simultaneous endoscopic third ventriculostomy has emerged as a minimally invasive and highly effective strategy for initial management since it addresses the issue of tissue diagnosis and offers a solution for the associated hydrocephalus frequently encountered in these patients. Endoscope-assisted microsurgery and purely endoscopic excision have been reported in few reports and are likely to be more utilized in the future.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative planning is very crucial and should most importantly be individualized according to the anatomical features of the lesion and structures encountered during the procedure.