title: Cavernous hemangioma of the third ventricle: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although cavernous hemangiomas (CHs) can be found anywhere in the central nervous system, CHs of the third ventricle have been reported in only 29 patients (including our case). In the current case report, we discuss the clinical characteristics and surgical outcome of CHs of the third ventricle.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 64-year-old female was admitted to our emergency room with a sudden decreased level of consciousness. Brain imaging studies demonstrated a multi-lobulated hemorrhagic mass in the third ventricle. The lesion was removed via the transcallosal-interforniceal approach and pathologically diagnosed as CH. Postoperatively, the patient had a transient neurological deficit due to hypothalamic injury and recovered to the normal status at 2 months after the operation. In the review of 29 cases, the mean age of the patients was 40 years with a slight female preponderance (female/male, 17/12). The majority of the patients complained of a mass effect with signs of increased intracranial pressure; only one case was asymptomatic. Gross total resection was achieved in 81% of the cases. Around 80% of the patients were asymptomatic or improved from the initial symptoms. Mortality rate was 6.9% and the most common complication was hydrocephalus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As demonstrated in the review of the previous reports, the outcome is favorable after surgical excision for CH of the third ventricle. Hence, surgical excision appears to be the treatment of choice for CH located in the third ventricle, which tends to grow rapidly resulting in a mass effect.
authors: Moon-Soo
authors: MS
authors: Han
authors: Department of Nueurosurgery, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Science, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital & Medical School, 322 Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do 519-763, South Korea. moonks@chonnam.ac.kr.
authors: Kyung-Sub
authors: KS
authors: Moon
authors: Kyung-Hwa
authors: KH
authors: Lee
authors: Seul-Kee
authors: SK
authors: Kim
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Jung
mesh_terms: D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011379:Prognosis; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery