Reinvestigating Tumor–Ventricle Relationship of Craniopharyngiomas With Predominantly Ventricular Involvement: An Endoscopic Endonasal Series Based on Histopathological Assessment

ObjectiveCraniopharyngiomas (CPs) predominantly involving the third ventricle were commonly termed “intraventricular” lesions. The aim of this study was to clarify the anatomical relationship between the tumor and the third ventricle by both surgical and histological investigation.MethodsA retrospective review of primarily resected CPs by endoscopic endonasal surgery was performed. CPs with predominantly ventricular involvement were selected for study inclusion by preoperative imaging. The surgical procedure of each case was reviewed. The wholly removed tumor specimens were histologically analyzed, in all cases, to investigate the tumor–third ventricle relationship using hematoxylin and eosin, immunochemical, and immunofluorescence staining.ResultsTwenty-six primary CPs predominantly involving the third ventricle were selected from our series of 223 CPs treated by endoscopic endonasal surgery between January 2017 and March 2021. Gross-total resection was achieved in 24 (92.3%) of 26 patients, with achievement of near-total resection in the remaining patients. A circumferential layer of stretched third ventricle floor was identified surrounding the tumor capsule, which could be peeled off easily from the ventricle floor remnants at most areas of the plane of tumor attachment. Some portions of the tumor capsule tightly adhered to the third ventricle floor were removed together with the floor. A breach of various size was observed at the third ventricle floor after tumor removal in most cases, the floor remaining intact in only two cases (7.7%). Histological examination on marked portions of tumor capsule showed that the pia mater was frequently detected at most of the tumor–brain interface, except at the antero-frontal border of tumor contacting with the third ventricle floor. At this point, a layer of gliosis with various thickness was observed between the tumor and the neural tissue of the third ventricle floor.ConclusionCPs with predominantly ventricular involvement should be considered as lesions with an extraventricular, epi-pia topography rather than “intraventricular” or “subpial” topography. Accurate understanding of the relationship between the third ventricle and such tumors would predict the circumferential cleavage plane of dissection, and remind neurosurgeons of performing dissection along the safe surgical plane to achieve total tumoral resection with minimizing hypothalamic damage.

SIMULTANEOUS PERFORMANCE OF ENDOSCOPIC VENTRICULOCISTERNOSTOMY OF THE THIRD VENTRICLE FLOOR, AQUEDUCTOPLASTY, FENESTRATION OF THE SUPRACEREBELLAR CYST IN OCCLUSIVE HYDROCEPHALUS IN A CHILD IN THE FIRST MONTH OF LIFE

The article presents a clinical case of the simultaneous execution of endoscopic ventriculocisternostomy of the third ventricle floor (ETV), aqueductoplasty, fenestration of the supracerebellar cyst in occlusive hydrocephalus using a semi-rigid needle neuroendoscope. The authors describe a child who, at the age of 1 month, was admitted to Neurosurgical Department No. 1 of the Federal Center for Neurosurgery of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in Tyumen with a diagnosis of congenital internal occlusive hydrocephalus, subcompensated course. MRI scan of the brain: triventricular occlusive asymmetric hydrocephalus is visualized, adhesions in the upper parts of the aqueduct, supracerebellar arachnoid cyst were visualised. ETV, aqueductoplasty, fenestration of the supracerebellar cyst were performed. There were no postoperative neurological, endocrine and infectious complications. The observation period after surgery is 7 years from today. Conclusion: preoperative MRI analysis of the structures of the third ventricular floor, interventricular and prepontine cisterns is important for understanding endoscopic, microsurgical anatomy and surgical planning. The use of modern improved endoscopic instruments, low-traumatic performance of all stages of the operation allow to restore cerebrospinal fluid circulation and achieve high efficiency in the treatment of occlusive hydrocephalus in the long-term period. This, in turn, relieves patients of the shunt-dependent state, constant correction of the dysfunctions of the shunt system and long-term, and often ineffective, treatment performed by neurologists and pediatricians.

Membrane Structures Between Craniopharyngioma and the Third Ventricle Floor Based on the QST Classification and Its Significance: A Pathological Study

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between craniopharyngiomas (CP) and the third ventricle floor by analyzing the membranes between them. Eight fetal specimens were first examined by hematoxylin and eosin and immunofluorescence staining to determine optimal markers for identifying membrane structures in the sellar region. Then, 17 CP with third ventricle floor involvement that had been removed by total en bloc resection through a transsphenoidal approach were examined. We found that the dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater could be seen to separate type Q tumors from the third ventricle floor. The arachnoid membrane and pia mater could be seen between type S tumors and the third ventricle floor. Pia mater could be seen between type T tumors and the third ventricle floor; however, at the origin point of the tumor, pia mater could be loosened or replaced by the tumor. Although some type T tumors compressed the third ventricle, the ependymal layer remained intact. Based on these embryonic and pathological data, we suggest that CP are nonneuroepithelial, epi-pia mater, and epi-third ventricle tumors.

Upward ballooning of the third ventricle floor in a patient with slit ventricle syndrome: A unique magnetic resonance imaging finding

Slit ventricle syndrome (SVS) is a well-known chronic complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement. In this report, we describe a unique anatomical change that we observed on the magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain acquired from a patient with SVS. The patient was a 40-year-old woman who had undergone VPS placement at 3 months of age. A computed tomography scan of her brain revealed a slit-like ventricle. In addition, an MR image of her brain revealed upward ballooning of the third ventricle floor, which returned to normal after a lumbar puncture. This anatomical change resulted from the pressure gradient between the intra- and extraventricular spaces. We believe our findings will further our understanding of the pathogenesis of SVS. Moreover, we hope our findings will help clinicians to select endoscopic third ventriculostomy as the primary surgical approach in patients with this particular SVS pathogenesis in order to avoid complications.

Orbitozygomatic craniotomy in three pieces: tips and tricks

ABSTRACT Objective Didactically describe the orbitozygomatic craniotomy made in three pieces. Method This approach was performed, from 2002 to 2011, in 49 patients admitted at Beneficência Portuguesa of São Paulo Hospital. Results Twenty-seven patients had vascular lesions and twenty-two suffered for intracranial skull base tumors. The vascular lesions varied from cavernous angiomas inside the mesencephalum, high bifurcation basilar tip aneurysms, superior cerebellar arteries aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations in the interpeduncular cistern. Skull base tumors as meningiomas, interpeduncular hamartomas and third ventricle floor gliomas were among the neoplastic lesions approached. We had no permanent injuries and minimal transient complications had occurred. Conclusion It is a descriptive text, organized in the sequence of the main stages in which such a craniotomy is performed, describing in details the technique in which this group of evolutionarily authors came to accomplish the task.