Predictors of postoperative complications and functional outcomes in pediatric patients with surgically treated fourth ventricle tumors
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tumors of the fourth ventricle are frequently treated pathologies in pediatric neurosurgery. Data regarding predictors for permanent neurological deficits, long-term functional outcomes, cerebellar mutism (CM), the extent of resection (EOR), and oncological outcomes are scarce.
We attempt to contribute to this topic with an analysis of our institutional cohort. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study of patients aged = 7.0 years, p = 0.019).
CONCLUSION: The overall rate of postoperative complications remains high due to the eloquent localization. Older patients (> 7 years) have been found to have better outcomes and prognosis.
Achieving GTR whenever feasible and safe has been shown to be critical for tumor recurrence. CM was more common in patients with medulloblastoma and in patients with tumors extending through the foramen of Luschka.
The telovelar approach uses a safe and anatomically sparing corridor; however, it has not been associated with a lower incidence of CM and neurological sequelae in our series, showing that each case should be assessed on an individual basis.