Surgical Management of Lateral Ventricular Tumors

Abstract

A series of 17 consecutive patients with lateral ventricular tumors were reviewed to determine their range of pathology and to assess the morbidity and mortality associated with their surgical treatment. This review demonstrated that these tumors rarely cause localizing findings on neurologic examination. They create severe memory problems and deficits in cognitive function as demonstrated by a relative deficit in the Performance IQ compared to the Verbal IQ. Operative procedures were divided into transcortical and transcallosal approaches and examined with regard to the relative liabilities of each procedure. Optimal tumor exposure and preservation of neurologic function most often was obtained with transcallosal surgery. In addition, excessive retraction and the risk of seizures can be reduced by exposing the tumor through the corpus callosum. Recognition of the potential problems the can occur in the surgery for lateral ventricular tumors can improve the management of these patients.