Treatment of gliomas of the third ventricle and pinealomas

Abstract

The operative mortality in direct surgical approach for excision or biopsy of 3d ventricle tumor (T) other than colloid cyst, or of pineal T is 34%. The operative mortality from a shunting procedure to relieve obstructive hydrocephalus due to 3d ventricle T or pinealoma is 5%. Radiation therapy in these 2 conditions in patients who have had partial removal of a T, biopsy, shunting procedure, or no surgery (if no hydrocephalus was present) provides a 61% 5-year survival rate. The preferred method of treatment, therefore, is that which spares the patient this great operative risk and gives him a chance at a long-term, useful survival by radiation alone or by radiation plus shunting when obstructive hydrocephalus is present.