The role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the management of hydrocephalus associated with cerebellopontine angle tumours.

Abstract

Progressive hydrocephalus secondary to cerebellopontine angle tumours has been traditionally managed with ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy provides an alternative treatment option and the success rate in this patient group has not previously been reported. We report a retrospective series of 11 patients with cerebello-pontine angle tumours who presented with symptomatic hydrocephalus, or developed hydrocephalus following radiosurgery, who underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Seven patients (63.6%) remain shunt free. There were no complications following endoscopy in any patient. Where the ventriculostomy failed there was no additional morbidity. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a low morbidity procedure, which avoids the inherent problems of shunts, particularly infection and should be considered for patients with hydrocephalus and cerebello-pontine angle tumours.