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

Summary Background. 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. Methods. 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. Results. 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. Conclusions. 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.