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Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2001; 44(2): 70-73
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-16002
ORIGINAL PAPER
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Endoscopic Surgery for Pineal Region Tumors

M. Gangemi, F. Maiuri, G. Colella, S. Buonamassa
  • Department of Neurosurgery, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Endoscopic surgery may play an important role in most patients with pineal region tumors. We report our experience with 5 patients treated by a burr hole endoscopic technique. The procedure included in all cases third ventriculostomy for the correction of hydrocephalus, CSF sample for cytology and tumor markers, and tumor biopsy for histological diagnosis. Endoscopic biopsies showed a pineocytoma in two cases, a germinoma in 2 and a low-grade astrocytoma in one. We agree that endoscopic surgery may allow us to select cases requiring a microsurgical approach (medium-sized or large non-germ-cell tumors) from cases to be treated only by irradiation and chemotherapy (germinomas and other non-germ-cell tumors). Then, in some patients with pineal region tumors the endoscopic procedure remains the only surgical treatment. When a direct microsurgical approach is indicated, it may be performed in a non-emergency situation and after correction of the hydrocephalus by endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Key words:

Neuroendoscopy - Pineal Tumor - Third Ventriculostomy - Hydrocephalus

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Corresponding Author

Prof M Gangemi

Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche
Università Federico II

Via Sergio Pansini 5
80131 Naples
Italy

Phone: Phone and Fax: +39-081-7462576

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