Endoscopic management of intra and paraventricular CSF cysts

The management of intra- and paraventricular lesions is one of the fields in which modern neuroendoscopic techniques have given the most significant contribution in terms of reduction in operative invasiveness and postoperative complications. In this context, fluid cysts represent an ideal ground on which results obtained with traditional surgical procedures (open surgery, shunting) have more and more to compare with the increasing number of encouraging results obtained by neuroendoscopy.

The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the results of the endoscopic treatment of intra- and paraventricular cysts performed at our institution and how they compare with what has been reported in the literature, concerning the results of open surgery, shunting, and endoscopic management.

All the patients with intra- and paraventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cysts endoscopically managed at our institution between March 2000 and October 2006 were included. Based on cyst location documented by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the cohort of patients examined was subdivided in five groups: A, paraventricular cysts; B, choroids plexuses cysts; C, secondary intraventricular cysts in previously hydrocephalus shunted patients; D, quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts; and E, suprasellar arachnoid cysts. The neuroendoscopic procedures were performed with a 30° rigid endoscope (Storz Decq, 3.8 mm). The surgical plan and best trajectory were selected on preoperative MR imaging. Postoperatively, all patients underwent CT scans in the first 48 h after surgery and MR control 3 months after surgery.

There were 26 patients (18 M/8F). The mean age at diagnosis was 8.95 years. Five of 26 cases were adult patients. Four patients had paraventricular cysts; 2 patients had a choroids plexuses cyst; 6 patients a secondary intraventricular cyst in previously shunted hydrocephalus; 11 patients had a quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cyst and 3 patients had a suprasellar arachnoid cyst. Fifteen patients had an associated hydrocephalus at the time of the surgical treatment (one patient in group A, six patients in group C, six in group D, and two in group E). Twenty-three out of 26 patients underwent endoscopic management of their cystic lesion as primary procedure; in the remaining three cases, it represented a secondary procedure after open cyst marsupialization or/and the implant of a cystoperitoneal shunt. Endoscopic management consisted in a cystoventriculostomy (CV) in 19 patients. Third ventriculostomy (ETV) was associated to CV in seven cases, and it was performed at the same time of the CV procedure in all these cases. There was no mortality, neither operative morbidity. At a mean follow-up of 2.15 years (0.1–4 years), a complete resolution of preoperative clinical symptoms and signs was recorded in 80.9% of symptomatic patients. Control MRI showed a reduced cyst size in 25/26 patients and a stable cyst size in the last case, with signs of CSF flow between the cyst and the cerebral ventricles in all cases. One out of 15 patients with associated hydrocephalus had a persistent ventriculomegaly without signs of increased intracranial pressure.

Our results confirm that endoscopic management of intra- and paraventricular cysts is a valid alternative to open surgery as well as to shunting procedures. Control of clinical symptoms and signs was obtained in around 80% of our patients, while radiological evidence of cyst size reduction occurred in more than 95% of them. These rates are comparable with results of open surgery and shunting. The main advantage of neuroendoscopy is the low incidence of complications, a result that is confirmed by the present series.