Turkish Neurosurgery 2017 , Vol 27 , Num 3
Parieto-Occipital Interhemispheric Precuneal Approach to the Lesions of the Atrium: Experience with 66 patients
Murat GEYIK1,Ibrahim ERKUTLU1,Mehmet ALPTEKIN1,Inan GEZGIN2,Ayşe MIZRAK3,Serhat PUSAT4,Abdulvahap GOK1
1Gaziantep University, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurosurgery, Gaziantep, Turkey
2Kafkas University, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurosurgery, Kars, Turkey
3Gaziantep University, Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, Gaziantep, Turkey
4Etimesgut Military Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.16296-15.1 AIM: The atrium (trigone) is the most common site for intraventricular lesions. The parieto-occipital interhemispheric precuneal approach (POIPA) is one of the particular ways to reach these lesions. The aim of this study was to draw specific attention to the surgical difficulties of these lesions and to present our experience with this operative approach.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Sixty-six patients with lesions located in the atrium of the lateral ventricles underwent surgical treatment in our institution using POIPA over a 13-year period. The clinical, radiological and surgical characteristics of these patients were retrieved and reviewed retrospectively. The histological diagnosis of the cases and postoperative complications were specifically focused on in this study.

RESULTS: Thirty-six (54.5%) patients were male and 30 patients were female with a mean age 37.9 years (range between 8 and 74 years). The lesion was in the right atrium in 25 cases and in the left in 41 (62.1%) patients. POIPA was used in all cases to remove the lesions. The most common tumor was glioblastoma (34.8%), followed by glial tumors grade I, II and III and meningiomas. The other lesions were metastases, ganglioglioma, epidermoid cysts and arteriovenous malformations. Gross total resection of the tumors was achieved in 59 patients (89.4%) while subtotal removal was performed in 7 cases. Five (7.5%) patients died within the first month after surgery.

Conclusıon: POIPA provides a safe and effective way to reach lesions located in the atrium of the lateral ventricle. Knowledge of precise anatomy associated with the meticulous surgical techniques decreases the surgical morbidity and mortality of the patients. Keywords : Lateral ventricle, Atrium, Parieto-occipital interhemispheric precuneal approach

Corresponding author : Murat GEYİK, drmuratgeyik@gmail.com