Surgical outcome of posterior fossa brain tumors

ABSTRACT

To determine the surgical outcome of posterior fossa brain tumors. Descriptive case series. Department of Neurosurgery, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi, from April 2012 to October 2012. The data of 66 patients managed during the study period was analyzed. Patients were divided into extra and intra-axial groups. All patients underwent surgery. The outcome was measured as good and poor two months after discharge from the hospital. Out of 66 patients, 41[62%] were males and 25 [38%] females. The mean age of the patients was 31.21 +/- 18.49 year. With respect to age groups, good surgical outcome was observed in 11 to 30 year and 41 to 50 year of age. Good surgical outcome was similar in both the genders. Vestibular schwanoma was the commonest tumor [72.2%] in extraaxial variety of tumors. Good functional outcome [80%] was observed following surgery in extra-axial group of patients. No mortality occurred in extra-axial group while two patients died in intra-axial group. Medulloblastoma [29.26%] and pilocytic astrocytoma [29.26%] were the commonest tumors in intra-axial group. Mortality occurred only in 2 [4.87%], recurrence in 2 [4.87%] and unresolved hydrocephalus in 3 [7.31%] patients. Improvement in morbidity was noticed in 31[75.6%] patients after surgery. Factors associated with good outcome was age > 10 years and type of tumor