Tumors of the third ventricle: review of the literature

In this chapter the authors compared the results of the national series (26 2 patients) with the relevant data from the literature, in order to establi sh the optimal therapeutic management. Colloid cysts represent the main tum or encountered within the third ventricle (145 cases). Sudden death from co lloid cysts is documented in this series, brit neurosurgeons should also be aware of the increasing number of fortuitous diagnosis of such lesions. Th e liquid consistency of the content of the cyst is the major argument to ch oose the surgical procedure, Liquid colloid cysts usually associate isodens e appearance on CT Scan, hypo-intensity on T1 weighted MRI images, and hype rintensity on T2-weighted MRI images. Endoscopy now appears as an accurate surgical procedure. A surgical strategy is proposed Among glial tumors, pil ocytic astrocytomas are poorly documented in the literature. Low grade astr ocytomas, ependymomas, subependymomas and giant cell subependymal astrocyto mas, gangliogliomas, and oligodendrogliomas were reviewed with the relevant literature. Other tumors are rare in the third ventricle, except for choro id plexus papilloma and craniopharyngioma. The reality of purely intraventr icular craniopharyngioma is confirmed by the experience of this series. Oth er lesions such as meningioma cavernoma, germ-cell tumors, lymphomas, metas tasis, epidermoid cysts, and exceptionnal lesions were also reviewed.