[Diagnosis and micro-neurosurgery for the fourth cerebral ventricle tumors].
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.
Hu
Wei-Wei
WW
Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University Medical College, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Zheng
Xiu-Jue
XJ
Shen
Gang
G
Liu
Wei-Guo
WG
Shen
Hong
H
Fu
Wei-Ming
WM
Zhou
Jing-Yi
JY
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