title: Histological analysis of the third ventricle floor in hydrocephalic and nonhydrocephalic brains: application to neuroendocrine complications following third ventriculostomy procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endocrine dysfunction following endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is rare, but it has been reported. In the present study the authors sought to determine the histological nature of the floor of the third ventricle in hydrocephalic brains to better elucidate this potential association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five adult cadaveric brains with hydrocephalus were examined. Specifically, the floors of the third ventricle of these specimens were studied histologically. Age-matched controls without hydrocephalus were used for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although it was thinned in the hydrocephalic brains, the floor of the third ventricle had no significant difference between the numbers of neuronal cell bodies versus nonhydrocephalic brains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although uncommon following ETV, endocrine dysfunction has been reported. Based on the present study, this is most likely to be due to the injury of normal neuronal cell bodies found in this location, even in very thinned-out tissue.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.forename: Eyas M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hattab
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chern
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wellons
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wellons
authors.forename: Bermans J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Iskandar
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Gadol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002452:Cell Count; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000473:pathology*; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*