Background Large intraventricular tumors (IVTs) impose technical and surgical challenges, due to their enormous sizes, mass effect, vast extensions, and vascularity. Objective The authors aim at presenting their results, clinical outcomes, and the surgical strategies in the management of large IVTs through transcortical approaches. Methods A prospective trial was conducted at the Main Hospital of Alexandria University, Egypt, between August 2018 and October 2020 on 20 patients harboring IVTs larger than 5 cm or bilaterally represented. The variables evaluated included the extent of resection, postoperative neurological deficits, blood loss, surgical approaches, intraoperative challenges, complications, adjuvant therapies, Glasgow Outcome Scale, hydrocephalus, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. Results The study included 20 cases (9 males and 11 females). Mean age at diagnosis was 16.1 years (range 1–45). Mean follow-up was 12 months (range 9–26). Primary tumor locations were ventricular body, atrium, temporal horn, and frontal horn in 11, 5, 3, and 1 cases, respectively. Main pathologies were central neurocytomas (7 patients/35%), ependymomas (3 patients/15%), and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) (3 patients/15%). Excision was gross total (n = 19) and near-total (n = 1). Significant intraoperative bleeding (n = 6). Postoperative minor intraventricular hemorrhage (n = 6), subdural collections (n = 8), hydrocephalus (n = 9), memory affection (n = 4), and motor deficits (n = 4). Postoperative Glasgow Outcome Scale of 5/5 (n = 20), no mortalities were recorded. preoperative seizures (n = 7), new onset postoperative seizures (n = 2). Conclusion Surgical approaches to large tumors of the lateral ventricles should be tailored to the variability of tumor locations, dimensions, extensions, and the individual morbid anatomy, in addition to the surgeon’s experience and preferences. Trans-cortical approaches can provide safe surgical corridors to tackle these challenging subtypes of IVTs with good clinical outcomes, tumor resectability rates, and seizure control.

Introduction: Thalamic space-occupying lesions (SOL) are considered challenging for microsurgical removal. Unfortunately, the pathological features of lesions occurring in the thalamic region are different with a wide variation in clinical behavior and outcome. Although microsurgery is still the gold standard in the management of these lesions through different approaches, questions remain whether surgery is feasible and safe in these patients and what are the alternatives? It is well known that stereotactic techniques may be favorable especially in cystic, small, multiple lesions and in combination with adjuvant therapy. Transventricular endoscopic approach is also an alternative technique to combine tumor biopsy and treatment of hydrocephalus. Aim of the study: The identification of the different procedures for the management of thalamic SOL in respect to the age of the patient, the clinical condition, and the site of the lesion as well as its extent and pathology. Patients and methods: This prospective study included 35 patients having thalamic lesions with a mean age of 27 years old who were treated with different approaches including microsurgical, stereotactic, and endoscopic approaches. The clinical outcome was assessed as the same, improved, deteriorated, or died in comparison to the initial clinical status, while the radiological control was measured as no gross residual, residual < 10% and residual > 10%. Chi-square test was used to test the association between two categorical variables. Results: Thirty-five patients were included in this study, 20 were males and 15 were females. Eight cases were children, and 27 cases were adults. The most common clinical presentation was contralateral hemiparesis. The most common pathology was pilocytic astrocytoma. Radiological studies showed that the total thalamic type was the most common topographic variant and that 10 cases had hydrocephalus treated with CSF diversion procedures. For the definitive lesion, 2 cases underwent endoscopic biopsy and cystoventriculostomy and 18 cases had stereotactic technique in the form of biopsy, aspiration, and ommaya reservoir application, while 15 cases had microsurgery through different approaches with stereotactic technique preceding surgery in 2 of them. Conclusion: The main factors involved in choosing the appropriate approach included nature of the lesion (solid or cystic, multiplicity), suspected pathological type, and diffusion tensor imaging. Abscesses are best treated with stereotaxy, while non-neoplastic cystic lesions (other than abscesses) related to the ventricles are best treated with endoscopy. For the remaining pathologies, maximum surgical removal is the best management. Best lesion control was provided by microsurgery.

Introduction The most successful surgical management of periventricular and intraventricular cysts is still a matter of debate. Up to the early 1990s, open cyst fenestration and cystoperitoneal shunts were the only options available. Recently, different endoscopic approaches to these lesions have gained popularity. Methods Eighteen endoscopic procedures were performed for the treatment of arachnoid cysts in 18 patients. Sylvian fissure arachnoid cysts were excluded from this study. Ten of them were females and eight were males with their ages ranging from 6 months to 50 years with a mean of 16 years. All patients were prospectively observed. Results Seven of the arachnoid cysts were in the suprasellar region, 5 in the quadrigeminal region, 2 in the posterior fossa, 2 parietal, and 2 intraventricular. Seventeen cases (94%) had hydrocephalus. The main presenting manifestations were those of increased intracranial pressure. All fenestrations were done in the lateral ventricle except for the 2 cases with posterior fossa arachnoid cysts, the fenestrations were done to the fourth ventricle. Endoscopic ventriculocytostomies (VC) were performed in 14 cases without operative complications and no stents were placed. Endoscopic cystocisternostomies (C) were done in all suprasellar cases. Endoscopic cystoventriculostomies (CV) were done in 4 cases. The mean surgical time was 1 h. The mean follow-up period was 15 months. Symptoms improved in 17 cases. Seventeen cases demonstrated a significant decrease of the cysts’ size in the postoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A single case developed a complication in the form of subdural hygroma which required no intervention and was managed conservatively. Conclusion Endoscopic management of periventricular and intraventricular arachnoid cysts is a useful safe option in the management of arachnoid cysts related to the ventricular system.

Background Data: Identification of the prognostic factors of the surgical outcomes of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) is essential. Many studies have established that early surgical intervention was associated with better outcomes and enhanced survival rates. Purpose: This study investigated the prognostic factors of the one-year surgical outcomes of patients with IMSCTs. Study Design: A prospective clinical case study. Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with IMSCTs, who underwent surgery in our institution and were followed up at our clinic were recruited for this study. Patients were followed up for one year to assess postoperative functional outcomes using the modified McCormick Scale (MMS). The reported parameters included preoperative MMS, use of operative monitoring, use of ultrasonic aspirator, the extent of tumor resection, and postoperative adjuvant therapy. Results: Operatively, 85% of patients underwent laminectomy, 55% reported growth total resection (GTR), 55% intraoperative monitoring, 75% underwent ultrasonic aspiration, 55% had syrinx, and 20% had duraplasty. The preoperative MMS improved from 3.0 to 2.32 and 2.42 postoperatively at six months and one year of follow-up, respectively. Patients with postoperative MMS ≤3 were more likely to undergo GTR with better postoperative MMS than those with preoperative MMS >3 at six-month follow-up (81.8% vs. 25%, respectively; p = 0.013) and at one-year follow-up (84.4 vs. 0%, respectively; p = 0.001). Good preoperative MMS, use of ultrasonic aspirator, and neuromonitoring were associated with better MMS. There were no significant associations between MMS at the sixth month and reported parameters including gender, symptoms duration, tumor location, bony work whether laminectomy or laminoplasty, number of segments involved, tumor histopathology, duraplasty, and postoperative adjuvant therapy. Conclusion:The findings of the current study showed that patients with GTR, good preoperative MMS, intraoperative monitoring, and ultrasonic aspirator usage might be associated with better functional outcomes. (2021ESJ229)