Pediatric Intraventricular Brain Tumors: Endoscopic Neurosurgical Techniques

Abstract

Endoscopic neurosurgical techniques are increasingly being utilized in the management of intraventricular brain tumors in children. Because intraventricular tumors are deep-seated within the brain, traditional surgical approaches require a large incision and craniotomy. Modern endoscopic techniques are employed by pediatric neurosurgeons to treat many intraventricular brain tumors in a minimally invasive manner. When a histological diagnosis is required in order to determine how a particular tumor should be managed, endoscopic biopsy is often the least invasive means of obtaining a specimen. The majority of children with intraventricular brain tumors present with hydrocephalus, and endoscopic techniques enable simultaneous treatment of hydrocephalus along with tumor biopsy. While the majority of intraventricular brain tumors cannot be completely resected with current technology, selected cases are amenable to complete surgical resection. This chapter reviews indications, techniques, and outcomes associated with endoscopic management of pediatric intraventricular brain tumors.KeywordsEndoscopic ResectionEndoscopic Third VentriculostomyEndoscopic TechniqueEndoscopic BiopsyObstructive HydrocephalusThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.