Microsurgical surgery options for tumors in pineal region / 中国综合临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the significance of surgical resection for the pineal region tumor,the extent of tumor resection,the surgical approaches and treatment measures of hydrocephalus.Methods Twentythree patients diagnosed of pineal region cancer were recruited for this study.Thirteen patients received ventriculo-peritoneal shunt(V-P),during which 7 cases received intraoperative end-plate colostomy.Two of the 13 cases received a second V-P procedure.Another 13 cases received operation by corpus callosum- septum-Dome Room-the third ventricle approach to remove the tumor; Eight cases underwent the tumor resection by suboccipital supratentorial approach (Poppen approach )and 2 cases underwent the tumor resection by the infratentorial cerebellar approach( Krause approach).Results Total tumor resection was performed in 11 cases,subtotal or major total resection in 8 cases and partial resection in 4 cases.Nine cases underwent postoperative radiotherapy alone,8 receiving radiotherapy plus chemotherapy,and 6 cases receiving neither radiotherapy nor chemotherapy.Two cases died during treatment.Conclusion Though it is not practicable to completely remove the germ cell tumor in patients with relatively large tumors,cerebrospinal fluid circulation pathways should be reestablished,including ventriculo-peritoneal shunt,colostomy from the end of the third ventricle to the end plate.If tumors are not too large,they would be easy to be removed.The effects on the surrounding brain tissue would not be much significant.If the connection of Ⅲ,V ventricles were normal,the patient may not need shunt or colostomy.Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be given to this kind of patients after the surgery.To improve the efficacy,other types of tumors,expecially the benign tumors,should be totally removed.