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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Intratumoral abscess: an unusual complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection
A Shankar1, G Chacko, A G Chacko
1Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College and Hospital, 632004, Vellore, India.
Insights
A rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts in children with posterior fossa tumors is a pyogenic abscess within the tumor. This shunt infection led to surgical challenges due to inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunts were historically common for managing hydrocephalus in children with posterior fossa tumors.
- Shunt placement, however, is associated with potential complications.
Observation:
- This case report details an unusual complication: a pyogenic abscess within a posterior fossa ependymoma.
- The abscess resulted from a shunt infection.
Findings:
- The shunt was exteriorized and the patient received antibiotics prior to surgical intervention.
- Surgical removal was challenging, with only partial tumor excision possible due to inflammation obscuring tissue planes.
Implications:
- This highlights a rare but serious complication of shunt use in pediatric posterior fossa tumors.
- Prompt diagnosis and management of shunt infections are crucial for optimizing surgical outcomes.
Introduction:
Ventriculoperitoneal shunts were routinely used in the past in children with posterior fossa tumors and hydrocephalus. They can, however, cause a multitude of problems.
Case Report:
This report highlights a previously unencountered phenomenon of a pyogenic abscess forming within a posterior fossa ependymoma as a result of shunt infection. The shunt was exteriorized and the child treated with antibiotics before surgery was done. Only a partial excision of the tumor was possible, as the inflammatory response caused by the abscess had obliterated tissue planes.
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