[Brain edema after surgery of lateral ventricle tumors]

We reported five cases of lateral ventricle tumors all of which developed severe brain edema between 9 days and 8 years after surgery. Follow-up study with serial computed tomography before and after surgery were presented. Based on a review of the literature, a possible causal mechanism is suggested: 1) The cerebrospinal fluid diffuses into the white matter through the surgically damaged ependyma and caused severe postoperative edema; and 2) surgical blockade of the flow of cerebral interstitial fluid to drain into the fenestrated vessels of the choroid plexus and other periventricular areas caused severe postoperative edema.