Management of hydrocephalus secondary to posterior fossa tumors

Abstract

The records of children with hydrocephalus secondary to posterior fossa tumors were reviewed and the methods of treatment were compared with their subsequent clinical course. Of 86 patients evaluated, 47 had no treatment for hydrocephalus prior to tumor removal, 12 had external ventricular drainage and 27 had CSF shunts before suboccipital craniectomy. Children with CSF shunts before tumor removal had significantly better postoperative conditions than the children without shunts (P < 0.01). Operative mortality of children without treatment of hydrocephalus before tumor surgery was 12.8%; it was 3.7% in children with preexisting shunts. Treatment of hydrocephalus with a CSF shunt prior to suboccipital craniectomy was a safe procedure that significantly lowered the morbidity and mortality of subsequent tumor removal.