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Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: A Single-Entry Point Endoscopic Intraventricular Approach for Third Ventriculostomy and Pineal Biopsy
Published on: June 28, 2024
Functional status of surgically treated pineal cyst patients
Joham Choque-Velasquez1, Julio C Resendiz-Nieves1, Szymon Baluszek1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Background:
Microsurgical removal represents a well-accepted treatment option for symptomatic benign pineal cysts (PCs). However, very few studies have quantitatively evaluated the functional status of surgically treated PC patients.
Methods:
A detailed analysis of preoperative, immediate postoperative, and long-term clinical and radiological characteristics was performed. The functional status of the patients was categorized using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale (CCOS). In addition, a comparative analysis between pediatric and adult patients with PCs was carried out.
Results:
Overall, pediatric patients experienced better long-term mRS scores than adults. The differences between the pre-, the immediate post-, and the last postoperative mRS of the patients were statistically significant for the total population (P < 0.001). All patients obtained a CCOS of 11 or more, which reflects a good/optimal result after microneurosurgery. The type of the surgical approach was independently associated with the postoperative complications (P < 0.01), more frequently reported with the midline supracerebellar infratentorial (SCIT) approach than with its paramedian modification.
Conclusion:
The functional status of properly selected symptomatic patients with PCs may improve significantly after their surgical management through a paramedian SCIT approach in sitting position.
