Endoscopic removal of cysticercal cysts within the fourth ventricle: technique and results

There is no consensus as to the optimum management of patients who harbor cysticercal cysts within the fourth ventricle. Compared with the alternative treatment options of anthelmintic medication and/or cerebrospinal fluid shunting, the surgical removal of the cyst has the advantage of eliminating the inflammatory nidus and potentially obviating the need for a complication-prone shunt. Here, an endoscopic surgical approach is described and proposed as a superior alternative to the suboccipital craniotomy for removal of a fourth ventricle cyst. A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare five consecutive endoscopic cases with eight previous consecutive cases in which a suboccipital craniotomy was performed to remove fourth ventricle cysticercal cysts. Comparisons are made with regards to success in removing the cyst, length of operation, surgical blood loss, postoperative discomfort, and complications. A detailed description of the endoscopic technique is given. Endoscopic removal of all cysts within the fourth ventricle was successful in each case. The mean length of operative times was shorter and the blood loss was reduced with the endoscopic procedure compared with the suboccipital craniotomy (2.5 +/- 0.8 hours and 5.3 +/- 2.2 hours [p = 0.02], 19 +/- 4ml and 269 +/- 203 ml [p = 0.02], respectively). The endoscopic procedure was safe and associated with less postoperative discomfort in most patients. In properly selected patients, the endoscopic removal of cysticercal cysts located within the fourth ventricle is superior to the suboccipital craniotomy and should be considered as the primary treatment for this condition.