title: Small-ventricle neuroendoscopy for pediatric brain tumor management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of intraventricular endoscopy to achieve diagnosis or to resect accessible intraventricular or paraventricular tumors has been described in the literature in both adults and children. Traditionally, these techniques have not been used in patients with small ventricles due to the perceived risk of greater morbidity. The authors review their experience with the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic brain tumor management in children with small ventricles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2002 and December 2009, 24 children with endoscopically managed brain tumors were identified. Radiological images were reviewed by a radiologist blinded to study goals and clinical setting. Patients were categorized into small-ventricle and ventriculomegaly groups based on frontal and occipital horn ratio. Surgical success was defined a priori and analyzed between groups. Trends were identified in selected subgroups, including complications related to pathological diagnosis and surgeon experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six children had small ventricles and 18 had ventriculomegaly. The ability to accomplish surgical goals was statistically equivalent in children with small ventricles and those with ventriculomegaly (83% vs 89%, respectively, p = 1.00). There were no complications in the small-ventricle cohort, but in the ventriculomegaly cohort there were 2 cases of postoperative hemorrhages and 1 case of infection. All hemorrhagic complications occurred in patients with high-grade tumor histopathological type and were early in the surgeon's endoscopic career.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our experience, endoscopy should not be withheld in children with intraventricular tumors and small ventricles. Complications appear to be more dependent on tumor histopathological type and surgeon experience than ventricular size.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama, Children's Hospital, 1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Naftel
authors.forename: Chevis N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Gavin T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Blount
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wellons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056364:Colloid Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D018303:Ganglioglioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000379:methods; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014696:Ventriculostomy