Surgical treatment of brain stem carcinoma: case report

An unusual case of adenocarcinoma metastatic to the pontomedullary region of the brain stem is presented. When the floor of the 4th ventricle was exposed at operation, this intramedullary tumor was found to be cystic. The patient died of septic complications after an uneventful decompression of the cyst and a subtotal excision of the neoplasm. The rational for surgery (tissue diagnosis and decompression) in some of these cases is discussed.