Long-term change in ventricular size following endoscopic third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus due to tectal plate gliomas

Object Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an alternative to shunt placement in children with hydrocephalus due to tectal plate gliomas (TPGs). However, controversy remains regarding the amount of ventricular size reduction that should be expected after ETV. This study investigates ventricular size change after ETV for TPGs. Methods Twenty-two children were identified from a 15-year retrospective database of neuroendoscopic procedures performed at the authors' institution, Children's Hospital of Alabama, in patients with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. Clinical outcomes, including the need for further CSF diversion and symptom resolution, were recorded. The frontal and occipital horn ratio (FOR) was measured on pre- and postoperative, 1-year, and last follow-up imaging studies. Results In 17 (77%) of 22 children no additional procedure for CSF diversion was required. Of those in whom CSF diversion failed, 4 underwent successful repeat ETV and 1 required shunt replacement. Therefore, in 21 (96%) of 22 patients, CSF diversion was accomplished with ETV. Preoperative and postoperative imaging was available for 18 (82%) of 22 patients. The FOR decreased in 89% of children who underwent ETV. The FOR progressively decreased 1.7%, 11.2%, and 12.7% on the initial postoperative, 1-year, and last follow-up images, respectively. The mean radiological follow-up duration for 18 patients was 5.4 years. When ETV failed, the FOR increased at the time of failure in all patients. Failure occurred 1.6 years after initial ETV on average. The mean clinical follow-up period for all 22 patients was 5.3 years. In all cases clinical improvement was demonstrated at the last follow-up. Conclusions Endoscopic third ventriculostomy successfully treated hydrocephalus in the extended follow-up period of patients with TPGs. The most significant reduction in ventricular size was observed at the the 1-year followup, with only modest reduction thereafter.

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Long-term Control of Hydrocephalus via Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Children with Tectal Plate Gliomas

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1097/00006123-200207000-00010 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 63-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

John C. Wellons ◽

R. Shane Tubbs ◽

Jason T. Banks ◽

Brenda Grabb ◽

Jeffrey P. Blount ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Primary Therapy ◽

Ventricular Size ◽

Imaging Studies ◽

Successful Treatment Outcome ◽

Tectal Plate ◽

Shunt Removal

Abstract OBJECTIVE We report the control of hydrocephalus in children with presumed tectal plate gliomas by the use of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). METHODS The hospital records, office charts, and imaging studies from children who underwent ETV at the Children's Hospital of Alabama were reviewed. Thirteen children with the diagnosis of tectal plate glioma and hydrocephalus were identified. ETV was the primary therapy instituted for all but one of these children. Successful treatment outcome was defined as shunt freedom, improvement in symptoms, and reduced ventricular size. RESULTS Thirteen children underwent a total of 15 ETVs, and all children were shunt-free at their most recent follow-up examinations. One child underwent successful secondary ETV, one child underwent shunt removal concomitant with the initial ETV, and one child underwent shunt removal concomitant with secondary ETV. Symptoms and signs resolved in all patients. All postoperative cranial imaging studies revealed normal or reduced ventricular size as compared with preoperative cranial imaging scans. The median follow-up period was 31 months. CONCLUSION In our surgical experience, ETV has been uniformly successful in the management of hydrocephalus caused by tectal plate gliomas in children. ETV should be considered the treatment of choice for hydrocephalus in pediatric patients with tectal plate gliomas.

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Palliative endoscopic third ventriculostomy for pediatric primary brain tumors: a single-institution case series

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2021.3.peds20952 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Robert C. Rennert ◽

Michael G. Brandel ◽

Shanmukha Srinivas ◽

Divya Prajapati ◽

Omar M. Al Jammal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumors ◽

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Successful Outcome ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Tumor Type ◽

Primary Brain Tumors ◽

Leptomeningeal Spread ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

OBJECTIVE Children with nonoperative brain tumors, such as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), often have life-threatening hydrocephalus. Palliative shunting is common in such cases but can be complicated by hardware infection and mechanical failure. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a minimally invasive alternative to treat hydrocephalus without implanted hardware. Herein, the authors report their institutional experience with palliative ETV for primary pediatric brain tumors. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective review of consecutive patients who had undergone palliative ETV for hydrocephalus secondary to nonresectable primary brain tumors over a 10-year period at Rady Children’s Hospital. Collected variables included age, sex, tumor type, tumor location, presence of leptomeningeal spread, use of a robot for ETV, complications, ETV Success Score (ETVSS), functional status, length of survival, and follow-up time. A successful outcome was defined as an ETV performed without clinically significant perioperative complications or secondary requirement for a new shunt. RESULTS Fifteen patients met the study inclusion criteria (11 males, 4 females; average age 7.9 years, range 0.8–21 years). Thirteen patients underwent manual ETV, and 2 patients underwent robotic ETV. Preoperative symptoms included gaze palsy, nausea/vomiting, headache, lethargy, hemiparesis, and seizures. Tumor types included DIPG (3), intraventricular/thalamic glioblastoma (2), and leptomeningeal spread of medulloblastoma (2), anaplastic oligo-/astrocytoma (2), rhabdoid tumor (2), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (1), ganglioglioma (1), pineoblastoma (1), and embryonal carcinoma (1). The mean preoperative ETVSS was 79 ± 8.8. There was 1 perioperative complication, a wound breakdown consistent with refractory hydrocephalus. The mean follow-up was 4.9 ± 5.5 months overall, and mean survival for the patients who died was 3.2 ± 3.6 months. Two patients remained alive at a mean follow-up of 15.7 months. Palliative ETV was successful in 7 patients (47%) and unsuccessful in 8 (53%). While patients with successful ETV were significantly older (11.9 ± 5.6 vs 4.4 ± 4.1 years, p = 0.010), there were no significant differences in preoperative ETVSS (p = 0.796) or postoperative survival (p = 0.476) between the successful and unsuccessful groups. Overall, functional outcomes were similar between the two groups; there was no significant difference in posttreatment Karnofsky Performance Status scores (68.6 ± 19.5 vs 61.3 ± 16.3, p = 0.454), suggesting that including ETV in the treatment algorithm did not worsen outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Palliative ETV is a safe and potentially efficacious treatment option in selected pediatric patients with hydrocephalus from nonoperative brain tumors. Close follow-up, especially in younger children, is required to ensure that patients with refractory symptoms receive appropriate secondary CSF diversion.

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Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for treatment of adult hydrocephalus: long-term follow-up of 163 patients

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2016.6.focus16193 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. E3 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Albert M. Isaacs ◽

Yarema B. Bezchlibnyk ◽

Heather Yong ◽

Dilip Koshy ◽

Geberth Urbaneja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Improvement ◽

Treatment Modality ◽

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Long Term Treatment ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Csf Diversion

OBJECTIVE The efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for the treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus has been extensively reported in the literature. However, ETV-related long-term outcome data are lacking for the adult hydrocephalus population. The objective of the present study was to assess the role of ETV as a primary or secondary treatment for hydrocephalus in adults. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with symptomatic hydrocephalus treated with ETV in Calgary, Canada, over a span of 20 years (1994–2014). Patients were dichotomized into a primary or secondary ETV cohort based on whether ETV was the initial treatment modality for the hydrocephalus or if other CSF diversion procedures had been previously attempted respectively. Primary outcomes were subjective patient-reported clinical improvement within 12 weeks of surgery and the need for any CSF diversion procedures after the initial ETV during the span of the study. Categorical and actuarial data analysis was done to compare the outcomes of the primary versus secondary ETV cohorts. RESULTS A total of 163 adult patients with symptomatic hydrocephalus treated with ETV were identified and followed over an average of 98.6 months (range 0.1–230.4 months). All patients presented with signs of intracranial hypertension or other neurological symptoms. The primary ETV group consisted of 112 patients, and the secondary ETV consisted of 51 patients who presented with failed ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. After the initial ETV procedure, clinical improvement was reported more frequently by patients in the primary cohort (87%) relative to those in the secondary ETV cohort (65%, p = 0.001). Additionally, patients in the primary ETV group required fewer reoperations (p < 0.001), with cumulative ETV survival time favoring this primary ETV cohort over the course of the follow-up period (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients required repeat ETV, with all but one experiencing successful relief of symptoms. Patients in the secondary ETV cohort also had a higher incidence of complications, with one occurring in 8 patients (16%) compared with 2 in the primary ETV group (2%; p = 0.010), although most complications were minor. CONCLUSIONS ETV is an effective long-term treatment for selected adult patients with hydrocephalus. The overall ETV success rate when it was the primary treatment modality for adult hydrocephalus was approximately 87%, and 99% of patients experience symptomatic improvement after 2 ETVs. Patients in whom VP shunt surgery fails prior to an ETV have a 22% relative risk of ETV failure and an almost eightfold complication rate, although mostly minor, when compared with patients who undergo a primary ETV. Most ETV failures occur within the first 7 months of surgery in patients treated with primary ETV, but the time to failure is more prolonged in patients who present with failed previous shunts.

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Quality of life in children with hydrocephalus treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2020.8.peds20384 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Ángela Ros-Sanjuán ◽

Sara Iglesias-Moroño ◽

Bienvenido Ros-López ◽

Francisca Rius-Díaz ◽

Andrea Delgado-Babiano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Epileptic Seizures ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Neurosurgical Procedures ◽

Physical Domain ◽

History Of ◽

The Mean

OBJECTIVEThe objectives of this study were to determine the quality of life of a pediatric cohort with hydrocephalus treated by endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), using the Hydrocephalus Outcome Questionnaire–Spanish version (HOQ-Sv), and study the clinical and radiological factors associated with a better or worse functional status.METHODSThis cross-sectional study was undertaken between September 2018 and December 2019. It comprised a series of 40 patients ranging from 5 to 18 years old with hydrocephalus treated by ETV. ETV was considered to be successful if there was no need for surgery for the treatment of hydrocephalus after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The clinical variables included gender, age at hydrocephalus diagnosis, age at the time of ETV, age at completion of the questionnaire, etiology and type of hydrocephalus (communicating or not), prior shunt, repeat ETV, number of neurosurgical procedures, number of epileptic seizures, presenting signs, and follow-up duration until last office revision. The radiological variables were the Evans Index and the pre- and posttreatment frontooccipital horn ratio. An analysis was conducted of the association between all these variables and the various dimensions on the HOQ-Sv, completed by the parents of the patients via telephone or in the outpatient offices.RESULTSThe mean age of the children at ETV was 7 years (range 7–194 months), and on completing the questionnaire was 12 years (range 60–216 months). The mean HOQ scores were as follows: overall 0.82, physical domain 0.86, social-emotional (SE) domain 0.84, cognitive domain 0.75, and utility score 0.90. A history of epileptic crises was a predictive factor for a worse score overall and in the SE and cognitive domains. Factors related to a worse score in the physical domain were a previous shunt, the number of procedures, and the etiology and type of hydrocephalus. The mean follow-up duration from ETV to the last office visit was 5 years (64.5 months). No association was found between the degree of ventricular reduction and the quality of life.CONCLUSIONSThe factors related to a worse score in the different dimensions of the HOQ were a history of epileptic seizures, the number of procedures, communicating hydrocephalus, and having had a previous valve. No association was found between the reduction in ventricular size and the quality of life as measured on the HOQ-Sv.

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Anterior third ventricular height and infundibulochiasmatic angle: two novel measurements to predict clinical success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the early postoperative period

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2019.1.jns181330 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 132 (6) ◽

pp. 1764-1772

Author(s):

Mehmet Sabri Gürbüz ◽

Adnan Dağçınar ◽

Yaşar Bayri ◽

Aşkın Şeker ◽

Hasan Güçlü

Keyword(s):

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Clinical Success ◽

Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽

Early Postoperative Period ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Mr Images ◽

Postoperative Changes ◽

Before And After ◽

The Mean

OBJECTIVEThe authors sought to develop a set of parameters that reliably predict the clinical success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) when assessed before and after the operation, and to establish a plan for MRI follow-up after this procedure.METHODSThis retrospective study involved 77 patients who had undergone 78 ETV procedures for obstructive hydrocephalus between 2010 and 2015. Constructive interference in steady-state (CISS) MRI evaluations before and after ETV were reviewed, and 4 parameters were measured. Two well-known standard parameters, fronto-occipital horn ratio (FOHR) and third ventricular index (TVI), and 2 newly defined parameters, infundibulochiasmatic (IC) angle and anterior third ventricular height (TVH), were measured in this study. Associations between preoperative measurements of and postoperative changes in the 4 variables and the clinical success of ETV were analyzed.RESULTSOf the 78 ETV procedures, 70 (89.7%) were successful and 8 (10.3%) failed. On the preoperative MR images, the mean IC angle and anterior TVH were significantly larger in the successful procedures. On the 24-hour postoperative MR images of the successful procedures, the mean IC angle declined significantly from 114.2° to 94.6° (p < 0.05) and the mean anterior TVH declined significantly from 15 to 11.2 mm (p < 0.05). The mean percentage reduction of the IC angle was 17.1%, and that of the anterior TVH was 25.5% (both p < 0.05). On the 1-month MR images of the successful procedures, the mean IC angle declined significantly from 94.6° to 84.2° (p < 0.05) and the mean anterior TVH declined significantly from 11.2 to 9.3 mm (p < 0.05). The mean percentage reductions in IC angle (11%) and anterior TVH (16.9%) remained significant at this time point but were smaller than those observed at 24 hours. The 6-month and 1-year postoperative MR images of the successful group showed no significant changes in mean IC angle or mean anterior TVH. Regarding the unsuccessful procedures, there were no significant changes observed in IC angle or anterior TVH at any of the time points studied. Reduction of IC angle and reduction of anterior TVH on 24-hour postoperative MR images were significantly associated with successful ETV. However, no clinically significant association was found between FOHR, TVI, and ETV success.CONCLUSIONSAssessing the IC angle and anterior TVH on preoperative and 24-hour postoperative MR images is useful for predicting the clinical success of ETV. These 2 measurements could also be valuable as radiological follow-up parameters.

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Long-term Reliability of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000159712.48093.ad ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 56 (6) ◽

pp. 1271-1278 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

David Kadrian ◽

James van Gelder ◽

Danielle Florida ◽

Robert Jones ◽

Marianne Vonau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Aqueduct Stenosis ◽

Previous Infection ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

The Mean ◽

The Individual ◽

Operating Surgeon

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To describe the short-term operative success and the long-term reliability of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for treatment of hydrocephalus and to examine the influence of diagnosis, age, and previous shunt history on these outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 203 consecutive patients from a single institution who had ETV as long as 22.6 years earlier. Patients with hydrocephalus from aqueduct stenosis, myelomeningocele, tumors, arachnoid cysts, previous infection, or hemorrhage were included. RESULTS: The overall probability of successfully performing an ETV was 89% (84–93%). There was support for an association between the surgical success and the individual operating surgeon (odds ratios for success, 0.44–1.47 relative to the mean of 1.0, P = 0.08). We observed infections in 4.9%, transient major complications in 7.2%, and major and permanent complications in 1.1% of 203 procedures. Age was strongly associated with long-term reliability. The longest observed reliability for the 13 patients 0 to 1 month old was 3.5 years. The statistical model predicted the following reliability at 1 year after insertion: at 0 to 1 month of age, 31% (14–53%); at 1 to 6 months of age, 50% (32–68%); at 6 to 24 months of age, 71% (55–85%); and more than 24 months of age, 84% (79–89%). There was no support for an association between reliability and the diagnostic group (n = 181, P = 0.168) or a previous shunt. Sixteen patients had ETV repeated, but only 9 were repeated after at least 6 months. Of these, 4 procedures failed within a few weeks, and 2 patients were available for long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: Age was the only factor statistically associated with the long-term reliability of ETV. Patients less than 6 months old had poor reliability.

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Pediatric tectal plate gliomas: clinical and radiological progression, MR imaging characteristics, and management of hydrocephalus

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2013.9.peds13347 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 13-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Christoph J. Griessenauer ◽

Elias Rizk ◽

Joseph H. Miller ◽

Philipp Hendrix ◽

R. Shane Tubbs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mr Imaging ◽

Low Grade ◽

Radiological Progression ◽

Favorable Prognosis ◽

Imaging Characteristics ◽

Tectal Plate ◽

Csf Diversion ◽

The Mean ◽

Occipital Horn

Object Tectal plate gliomas are generally low-grade astrocytomas with favorable prognosis, and observation of the lesion and management of hydrocephalus remain the mainstay of treatment. Methods A cohort of patients with tectal plate gliomas at 2 academic institutions was retrospectively reviewed. Results Forty-four patients with a mean age of 10.2 years who harbored tectal plate gliomas were included in the study. The mean clinical and radiological follow-up was 7.6 ± 3.3 years (median 7.9 years, range 1.5–14.7 years) and 6.5 ± 3.1 years (median 6.5 years, range 1.1–14.7 years), respectively. The most frequent intervention was CSF diversion (81.8% of patients) followed by biopsy (11.4%), radiotherapy (4.5%), chemotherapy (4.5%), and resection (2.3%). On MR imaging tectal plate gliomas most commonly showed T1-weighted isointensity (71.4%), T2-weighted hyperintensity (88.1%), and rarely enhanced (19%). The initial mean volume was 1.6 ± 2.2 cm3 and it increased to 2.0 ± 4.4 cm3 (p = 0.628) at the last follow-up. Frontal and occipital horn ratio (FOHR) and third ventricular width statistically decreased over time (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusions The authors' results support existing evidence that tectal plate gliomas frequently follow a benign clinical and radiographic course and rarely require any intervention beyond management of associated hydrocephalus.

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Complications of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Previously Shunted Patients

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000310762.26035.b0 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 63 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. ONS168-ONS175 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Walter J. Hader ◽

Robin L. Walker ◽

S. Terence Myles ◽

Mark Hamilton

Keyword(s):

Effective Treatment ◽

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽

Shunt Malfunction ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

History Of ◽

Additional Procedure

Abstract Objective: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is considered to be a safe and effective treatment in selected patients as an initial treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus and at the time of shunt malfunction in previously shunted patients. We compared the outcome and complications of ETV between patients with newly diagnosed hydrocephalus and those with previous shunting procedures. Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing ETV from 1996 to 2004 at Alberta's Childrens Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre was completed. Patient data included symptoms at clinical presentation, cause of hydrocephalus, age at initial shunt, number of previous shunt revisions, age at ETV, complications, and subsequent shunting procedures performed. Results: A total of 131 patients were identified with a minimum follow-up duration of 1 year; 71 (82.5%) of 86 patients who underwent ETV as a primary procedure and 36 (80%) of 45 patients who had ETV at the time of shunt malfunction were shunt-free at the last follow-up evaluation. Patients younger than 1 year old who underwent ETV were more likely to require an additional procedure for control of their hydrocephalus (P< 0.01). Serious complications after ETV occurred more frequently in patients who presented at the time of shunt malfunction (14 of 45 patients, 31%) compared with patients who underwent primary ETV (seven of 86 patients, 8%) (P = 0.02). Previously shunted patients with a history of two or more revisions (P= 0.03) and who experienced a serious complication at the time of ETV (P = 0.01) were more likely to require shunt replacement. Conclusion: ETV is an effective treatment both in selected patients with newly diagnosed hydrocephalus and in patients with a previous shunting procedure who are presenting with malfunction. Complications of ETV occur more frequently in previously shunted patients than in patients treated for newly diagnosed hydrocephalus, and care must be taken in the selection and treatment of these patients.

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Fourth Ventricle Outlet Obstruction and Diverticular Enlargement of Luschka Foramina in a Child with Down Syndrome

Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽

10.1159/000511088 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Valentina Orlando ◽

Pietro Spennato ◽

Maria De Liso ◽

Vincenzo Trischitta ◽

Alessia Imperato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Down Syndrome ◽

Fourth Ventricle ◽

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽

Radiological Finding ◽

Outlet Obstruction ◽

Third Ventriculostomy ◽

Viable Option ◽

Case Presentation

Introduction: Hydrocephalus is not usually part of Down syndrome (DS). Fourth ventricle outlet obstruction is a rare cause of obstructive hydrocephalus, difficult to diagnose, because tetraventricular dilatation may suggest a communicant/nonobstructive hydrocephalus. Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 6-year-old boy with obstructive tetraventricular hydrocephalus, caused by Luschka and Magendie foramina obstruction and diverticular enlargement of Luschka foramina (the so-called fourth ventricle outlet obstruction) associated with DS. He was treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) without complications, and a follow-up MRI revealed reduction of the ventricles, disappearance of the diverticula, and patency of the ventriculostomy. Conclusion: Diverticular enlargement of Luschka foramina is an important radiological finding for obstructive tetraventricular hydrocephalus. ETV is a viable option in tetraventricular obstructive hydrocephalus in DS.

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Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Hydrocephalus Secondary to Tectal Plate Glioma versus Idiopathic Aqueductal Stenosis: Results from a Single Center

Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽

10.1159/000515516 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Hamid Reza Niknejad ◽

Melissa Frederickx ◽

Emiel Salaets ◽

Jurgen Lemiere ◽

Lieven Lagae ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aqueductal Stenosis ◽

Maximum Diameter ◽

Benign Tumors ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Adequate Treatment ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Tectal Plate ◽

The Mean

Introduction: Tectal plate gliomas (TPG) constitute a distinct entity of benign tumors of the brain stem which show an indolent clinical course. Adequate treatment of secondary hydrocephalus is undoubtedly a major factor in the outcome. However, little is known about to what degree the tumor itself determines the long-term outcome of these patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed and compared the clinical and radiological data of 16 pediatric TPG patients with data of 12 pediatric idiopathic aqueductal stenosis (IAS) patients treated in our center from 1988 to 2018. For both groups, we assessed the long-term outcome in terms of hydrocephalus management, and for the TPG group, we assessed tumor growth during follow-up. In a separate prospective part of the study, we performed a neuropsychological evaluation in a subgroup of patients using a standardized testing battery, covering intelligence, learning, memory, executive functions, and an inventory on depression. Results: In the TPG group, the mean clinical and radiological follow-up was 84 and 70 months, respectively. On average, the maximum diameter of the tumor increased by 11% (p = 0.031) and the estimated tumor volume with 35% (p = 0.026) on radiological follow-up. The fronto-occipital horn ratio (FOHR) decreased by 23% on average after treatment. In the IAS group, the mean clinical and radiological follow-up was 117 and 85 months, respectively. In this group, the FOHR decreased by 21% on average. Neurocognitive testing revealed significant higher scores in the TPG group on global intelligence (TPG = 109, IAS = 85.5, U = 3, p < 0.01, z = −2.71), performance (TPG= 100, IAS = 85, U = 7, p = 0.03, z = −2.2), and verbal intelligence (TPG = 122, IAS = 91.5, U = 2, p < 0.00, z = −2.87) as well as working memory (TPG = 109.5, IAS = 77, U = 0.5, p = 0.01, z = −2.46). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the long-term outcome in TPG patients is acceptable and that cognition is substantially better preserved than in patients with IAS. This puts the idea of a significant contribution of the tumoral mass to disease outcome on the long term in question. Adequate and prompt management of hydrocephalus is the most important factor in long-term cognitive outcome.

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