Purely endoscopic resection of a choroid plexus papilloma of the third ventricle: case report

The authors report an illustrative case of a purely endoscopic surgical approach to successfully remove a solid choroid plexus papilloma of the third ventricle in an infant. A 10-week-old male infant first presented with transient episodes of forced downward gaze, divergent macrocephaly, a tense anterior fontanel, diastasis of the cranial sutures, and papilledema. Brain MRI revealed a small, multilobulated contrast-enhancing mass situated within the posterior third ventricle, with resultant obstructive hydrocephalus. A purely endoscopic removal of the tumor was performed through a single right frontal bur hole. Intraoperatively, a unique vascular tributary was recognized coming from the tela choroidea and was controlled with coagulation and sharp dissection. Postoperative MRI confirmed complete tumor removal, and the tumor was classified as a choroid plexus papilloma. There has been no evidence of tumor recurrence over 42 months of follow-up. With this case report the authors intended to show that endoscopic surgery can be an additional tool to consider when planning a choroid plexus tumor approach. It seems to be of particular interest in selected cases in which there are concerns about the patient's total blood volume, as in infants with potential hemorrhagic tumors and when it is possible to preoperatively identify a single vascular pedicle that can be approached early in the surgery.