title: Endoscopic Biopsy for Intra- and Paraventricular Tumors: Rates of Complications, Mortality, and Tumor Cell Dissemination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intra- and paraventricular tumors are frequently associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathway obstruction. Thus the aim of an endoscopic approach is to restore patency of the CSF pathways and to obtain a tumor biopsy. Because endoscopic tumor biopsy may increase tumor cell dissemination, this study sought to evaluate this risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients who underwent endoscopic biopsies for ventricular or paraventricular tumors between 1993 and 2011 were included in the study. Charts and images were reviewed retrospectively to evaluate rates of adverse events, mortality, and tumor cell dissemination. Adverse events, mortality, and tumor cell dissemination were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative clinical condition improved in 63.0% of patients, remained stable in 30.4%, and worsened in 6.6%. One patient (2.2%) had a postoperative thalamic stroke leading to hemiparesis and hemineglect. No procedure-related deaths occurred. Postoperative tumor cell dissemination was observed in 14.3% of patients available for follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients presenting with occlusive hydrocephalus due to tumors in or adjacent to the ventricular system, endoscopic CSF diversion is the procedure of first choice. Tumor biopsy in the current study did not affect safety or efficacy.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Anna Katharina
authors: AK
authors: Krähenbühl
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Baldauf
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Guhl
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Nordstadtkrankenhaus, Hannover, Germany.
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Gaab
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
authors: H W S W S
authors: HW
authors: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult