Clinical Observations on 40 Cases of Tumours of the Fourth Ventricle in Adults

Abstract

Forty cases of tumour of the fourth ventricle in adult were admitted to our hospital in a six year period. All of these patients were operated upon, with the tumour totally resected in 29 cases and subtotally resected in 11 cases. Three patients died in the early postoperative period from acute brain stem oedema (an operative mortality of 7.5%).

The other 37 cases were followed up for two to eight years. Up to now, 27 cases are still surviving; 15 of them have resumed their work; eight are living more or less normally and four must be taken care of by others. The essential points in diagnosis and treatment and the methods for improving the effectiveness of surgical excision are discussed.

Tumours of the fourth ventricle are not rare in adults over 16 years. Forty cases were admitted to our hospital from January 1972 to January 1978. Of these 37 were followed up for a period varying from two to eight years. Three died in the early postoperative period. Here is the analysis and discussion of the results of our treatment and follow-up.