Endoscopic treatment of mesencephalic ependymal cysts: technical case report.

Abstract

To evaluate the results of different neuroendoscopic surgical procedures for the treatment of mesencephalic ependymal cysts. The clinical records of five patients treated for symptomatic mesencephalic ependymal cysts were retrospectively studied. Two patients had been operated on using an endoscope-assisted microsurgical technique and three patients using a pure endoscopic procedure. Adequate fenestration of the cysts was achieved in all of the patients. Two of the patients were symptom-free, and the other three had improved significantly after a mean follow-up duration of 14 months. There was no surgical morbidity. Mesencephalic ependymal cysts can be treated adequately, resulting in a low morbidity rate, using neuroendoscopy or endoscope-assisted microsurgery. This specific surgical technique is presented.