Neuroendoscopic management of posterior third ventricle and pineal region tumors: technique, limitation, and possible complication avoidance

The endoscopic approach has gained an increased popularity in recent years for the biopsy and, in selected cases, the removal of tumors of the posterior third ventricle and pineal region. The authors report their experience on a series of 20 patients discussing also the technical limitations and complication avoidance. This is a prospective study of 20 patients with posterior third ventricle and pineal region tumors surgically managed by endoscopic biopsy and/or excision and simultaneous third ventriculostomy. The removal of the lesion could be achieved in 12 cases whereas in 8, only a biopsy could be performed. A histological diagnosis could be obtained in all cases. No delayed third ventricular stoma failures were recorded in any patient at the latest follow-up (mean follow-up, 39 months). Severe postoperative complications were recorded in 2 out of 12 cases of tumor removal attempt and in zero out of eight cases of biopsy. A delayed (3 weeks) postoperative mortality occurred in a patient harboring a GBM that developed an intratumoral hematoma 48 h postoperatively, one patient was in a vegetative state. Transient postoperative complications included: nausea and vomiting (five cases) and diplopia (two cases). One patient developed a bilateral ophthalmoplegia that recovered within 6 months due to residual tumor hemorrhage. Higher rate of complications was found in the case of vascularized and/or larger lesions. Endoscopic management of posterior third ventricle lesions may represent an effective option. However, though biopsies remain often a safe procedure, tumor excision should be limited to highly selected cases (cystic, poorly vascularized, and/or smaller than 2.5-cm lesions).