Clinical study of lateral ventricle tumors in the CT era

This paper presents 15 patients with a tumor localized within the lateral ventricle encountered in our hospitals during a 10 - year period from 1977, when the technique of CT scan was introduced through 1986. The literature describing this disease is breafly reviewed. This tumor is a rare entity, but exhibits a variety of pathological profiles. It is relatively benign in nature, usually found after it has grown to a large size because of its gradual growth and mild symptoms. The ratio of this tumor to all the brain tumors has been increased with increasing incidental findings of asymptomatic cases on routine CT scans. Craniotomy is the treatment of choice. However, meticulous operative technique and selection of appropriate approach are required to allow the brain to be retracted minimally and the feeding arteries controlled in an early stage of the procedure, and hence minimize postoperative neurological deficit. In most cases, surgery for a total resection can be performed with good prognosis and little chance of recurrence, if a risk of incidents such as bleeding at surgery, postoperative hemorrhage, and neurological deficit is evaded. We consider that this disease should be distinguished from paralateral ventricle tumors in the aspects of therapy and prognosis. (author)