title: [Diagnosis and micro-neurosurgery for the fourth cerebral ventricle tumors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the diagnostic method and analyze the result of microneurosurgical treatment for tumors of the fourth cerebral ventricle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor of the fourth ventricle was clinically diagnosed in 86 patients basing on the preliminary assessment of symptom and CT or MRI findings. Of these 86 patients treated with micro-neurosurgery, the tumors in 62 were totally removed, subtotally in 19, and partially in 5. Forty-two patients received postoperative radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients died postoperatively within ten days, and symptoms in 83 were improved after treatment. The average survival period was over 3 years. The pathology included 32 medulloblastomas, 23 ependymoma, 15 astrocytoma, 10 hemangiblastomas, 2 choroid plexus papillomas, and 4 epidermoid cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medulloblastoma, astrocytoma and hemangiblastoma are suggested to be removed totally whenever technically possible according to the site, character and volume of the tumor. For ependymoma, if close to the brain stem, is recommended to be subtotally removed. Postoperative radiotherapy may be beneficial for malignant types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University Medical College, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiu-Jue
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Wei-Guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Wei-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jing-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D018325:Hemangioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed