title: Endoscopic transventricular exploration with biopsy of the basal cisterns and the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in patients suffering with basal cistern meningitis and consecutive hydrocephalus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this work is to elucidate the efficacy of endoscopic basal cisterns exploration, biopsy, and third ventriculostomy (ETV) in patients with basal cistern meningitis and arachnoiditis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cases and videos of all patients in whom flexible neuroendoscopy was performed during the period of January 2005-June 2012 at the University Hospital 'Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto' in San Luis Potosí, México. A group of 47 patients with radiological diagnosis of basal meningitis, arachnoiditis, and negative cerebrospinal fluid analysis were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 28 (60%) patients with histological diagnosis, 22 (47%) were made from biopsy from the arachnoid membranes of the basal cisterns only, 4 (9%) only from the cerebral cortex, and 2 (4%) from both sites. There were no complications related to the endoscopic procedure. In 23 patients from the 42 with hydrocephalus, ETV was successful. The grade of diagnostic accuracy of both biopsies in detect etiology was 68% (28 of 47 patients), the diagnostic accuracy of arachnoid biopsy was 60%, and diagnostic accuracy of convexity brain biopsy was 21% with 24 and 6 patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic transventricular biopsy of the basal cisterns seems to be a safe and a relatively accurate procedure. As longs as frozen subarachnoid space was not seen, the possibilities of performing ETV in hydrocephalus condition are elevated depending on the causal micro-organism.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Central 'Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto' , San Luis Potosi , Mexico.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres-Corzo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurosurgery , University Clinic Evangelisches Krankenhaus , Oldenburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vinas-Rios
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinical Epidemiology , Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi , Bad Pyrmont , Mexico.
authors.forename: Jesus Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Viana Rojas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Central 'Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto' , San Luis Potosi , Mexico.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cervantes
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinical Epidemiology , Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi , Bad Pyrmont , Mexico.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Aguilar
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Central 'Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto' , San Luis Potosi , Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chalita-Williams
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Central 'Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto' , San Luis Potosi , Mexico.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Dellavecchia
authors.affiliation: d Department of Neurosurgery , Bathildis Krankenhaus , Bad Pyrmont , Germany.
authors.forename: Jose Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060740:Disease Eradication; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Basal cistern meningitis; Diagnostic accuracy; Endoscopic third ventriculostomy; Flexible neuroendoscopy; Hydrocephalus