Neuroendoscopic Surgical Treatment of Cerebellar Vermis Tumors in Pediatric Patients: A Case Series.

Abstract

Introduction: Neuroendoscopy is gaining traction as a minimally invasive technique for the resection of cerebellar vermis tumors. This study investigates the effectiveness and clinical experience of neuroendoscopic surgery for cerebellar vermis tumor resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 18 patients with cerebellar vermis tumors treated using the German STORZ neuroendoscope between January 2021 and January 2024 at the Department of Neurosurgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, and Guizhou Hospital of Shanghai Children's Center. The surgical outcomes, pathological diagnoses, postoperative complications, and follow-up results were analyzed.

Results: Of the 18 patients, total resection was achieved in 16 cases, subtotal resection in 1 case, and biopsy in 1 case. Postoperative pathology revealed 9 cases of medulloblastoma, 3 cases of ependymoma, and 5 cases of astrocytoma (2 WHO grade I, 2 grade II, and 1 grade III), along with 1 benign cerebellar lesion. Postoperative complications included malignant arrhythmia (1 case), cerebellar mutism (4 cases), and ataxia (13 cases). During the 1-36 months of follow-up, 2 patients developed communicating hydrocephalus, which improved following ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Recovery of cerebellar mutism occurred within an average of 21 days, while ataxia improved on average within 50 days. Tumor recurrence was observed in 3 patients.

Conclusion: Neuroendoscopic resection of cerebellar vermis tumors, performed by skilled operators, provides effective surgical exposure and offers a viable alternative to traditional microscopy with satisfactory clinical outcomes.