Surgical approaches to the third ventricle of the brain in children

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to describe and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various surgical approaches to neoplasms of the third ventricle of the brain in children.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study analyzed surgical interventions to the third ventricle in 657 patients, performed at the Academician N.N. Burdenko of the Research Institute of Neurosurgery from 1998 to 2018. These included 375 patients with intra-extraventricular craniopharyngiomas and 282 patients with gliomas of the third ventricle and chiasm. The patients age ranged from 3 mon to 18 years old.
 RESULTS: The anterior transcallosal approach provides access to the anterior horn and bodies of the lateral ventricles, as well as the third ventricle. The transfornical approach provides more opportunities for access to both the anterior and posterior parts of the third ventricle; however, it has a high risk of trauma to the fornix. The subchoroidal approach provides a very good view of the posterior parts of the third ventricle, especially of the pineal region; however, it has even greater restrictions on viewing its anterior parts. When compared with the transcallosal approach, the transfrontal approach can be used more safely in the absence of hydrocephalus (if the tumor is located in the anterior horn). No specific complications were inherent in a particular approach (seizures were registered in 1%, transient hemiparesis was noted in 10%, and transient memory impairments were revealed in 5% of cases).
 CONCLUSION: The use of a transcallosal approach is safe even in infants. The transcortical approach is recommended mainly for large tumors of the lateral ventricles, and the transcallosal approach should be used for small tumors of the third ventricle. No specific complications were inherent in a particular approach, and the choice was determined by the assessment of the exact location of the tumor and calculation of the most relevant trajectory for its achievement as well as the aim (biopsy or radical removal). Analysis of magnetic resonance imaging and neuronavigation are significant in the selection of surgical approaches.