Combined endoscopic and microsurgical resection of pineal region meningiomas by modified Poppen approach

Abstract

To retrospectively analyze the clinical data of patients with pineal region meningioma. All the patients underwent combined endoscopic and microsurgical procedure by modified Poppen approach (double-scopic technique) between January 2018 and March 2021 in the Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. A total tumor resection was achieved in all the patients without deaths. All the pineal region meningiomas were pathologically confirmed. During the follow-up period, none of the 10 patients experienced tumor progression, and 4 of patients were treated by radiotherapy after surgery. The external ventricular drainage was performed in 8 cases intraoperatively, and no case underwent the ventriculoperitoneal shunt during the follow-up period. The clinical symptoms of 9 cases were improved,1 case had no improvement, and no patients presented deteriorated symptoms. Combined endoscopic and microsurgical surgery resection of pineal region meningiomas by modified Poppen approach helped the surgeons directly observe the cerebral deep vein systems in pineal region with endoscope and significantly enhance the total resection rate of pineal region meningiomas, thereby decreasing the damage of cerebral deep vein systems in pineal region and reducing the incidence of surgical complications.