Microsurgical Resection of Posterior Third Ventricular/Pineal Region Papillary Tumor Via Supracerebellar Infratentorial Approach: 3-Dimensional Operative Video

Abstract

The posterior third ventricle and pineal region can harbor different pathologies. The supracerebellar infratentorial approach allows a direct access to the pineal region and posterior third ventricle and provides wide exposure of the arachnoid planes and deep venous system. In this 3-dimensional video, we present a patient with posterior third ventricular/pineal region tumor who underwent microsurgical resection via supracerebellar infratentorial approach. The patient is a 28-year-old woman with history of hydrocephalus who underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy at an outside hospital. The histopatology of the tumor was papillary tumor of the pineal region. The patient was referred for further surgical resection due to enlargement of her tumor on follow-up radiological imaging. The surgery and the patient's postoperative course were uneventful and the patient remained unchanged in the postoperative period. The important steps of the surgical approach and microsurgical resection are demonstrated in this 3-dimensional surgical video. The patient consented to publication of her images.