The DTI study of fornix in patients undergoing resection of third ventricle tumor through transcallosal interforniceal approach

Abstract

Objective To investigate the fornix of patients undergoing resection of third ventricle tumor through transcallosal interforniceal approach. Methods The clinical data of 5 patients with third ventricle tumor were retrospectively analyzed who were admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital from December 2015 to June 2016. All patients received operation through transcallosal interforniceal approach. DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) was performed before and after operation. The fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and length of fornix were measured. Results Total resection was achieved in 5 cases. At 1 month post operation, the DTI functional analysis showed that the FA value of fornix decreased slightly in 3 patients, the ADC value decreased slightly in 1 patient and the length of fornix decreased in 4 patients, compared with those before operation. Those parameters returned to preoperative levels at 3 months after operation. Conclusions The effects of operation on fornix were slight and temporary. After proficient operation, there was no significant change in the value of FA, ADC or the length of the fornix. DTI could be an effective method to evaluate the safety of operation. Key words: Central nervous system neoplasms; Third ventricle; Diffusion tensor imaging; Fornix; Transcallosal interforniceal approach