Institutional experience of endoscopic suprasellar arachnoid cyst fenestration

Characteristic and management of pediatric arachnoid cysts: A case series

Background/Aim: Arachnoid cysts (ACs) are the collection of fluid, which is similar in composition to cerebrospinal fluid, within the congenitally duplicated arachnoid membrane. ACs are clinically silent lesions, but sometimes they can manifest themselves with headache, convulsion, focal neurological deficits, cognitive decline, torticollis, and macrocephaly. Although the appropriate surgical approach is less clear, there is a consensus on the need for surgical treatment in symptomatic ACs. This study aims to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of cystoperitoneal shunt and microsurgical fenestration techniques. Methods: One hundred ninety-one consecutive patients from 1 month to 15 years old with AC were evaluated for suitability. Sixteen patients who underwent surgery were included in the study. Medical records of the patients with AC managed at our institutions were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Sixteen of 191 patients underwent surgical treatment via craniotomy for microsurgical cyst fenestration (CF) and cysto-peritoneal shunting (CS). CF was performed with partial cyst wall excision in all patients. Results: Seizure was the most common presentation in the patients, followed by headache and trauma, respectively. In our series the most common indications of the surgery were increased intracranial pressure (IICP). CF was performed in nine patients, and CS was performed in seven as the primary treatment. CS-related complications, such as infection (n = 2), dysfunction (n = 2) and intraabdominal abscess (n = 1) were the most commonly observed complications. No infections were observed after CF, but subdural hematoma was observed in one child. Conclusions: Although the most common symptoms in cases with arachnoid cysts are headache, rare symptoms, such as torticollis, may exist. Due to this, clinicians should reveal the cyst-complaint relationship first. Given the increased complications of CS, in addition to shunt independency and being free from shunt-related complications, the microsurgical CF with wide excision of the membranes seems to be the more preferable surgical option.

Management of Complex Hydrocephalus

Background

Management of complex/multiloculated/septated hydrocephalus is challenging. Neuroendoscopy has been well-established when compared to multiple shunt placements in management of multiloculated hydrocephalus (MH). The main aim of neuroendoscopy is to convert multiple locules into a single locule and drain it by either third ventriculostomy or ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Objective

The objective is to reduce the number of surgical procedures and improve the quality of life. Neuroendoscopy avoids multiple shunt placement and need for revision of shunt.

Methods

Literature review regarding natural history, pathogenesis, classification and management of complex/uni/multiloculated hydrocephalus was extensively done and our minimal experience with these cases has been taken into consideration.

Conclusion

Neuroendoscopy when combined with frameless neuronavigation is reliable, accurate, and extremely useful in maintaining orientation and localizing the appropriate fenestration site in MH where anatomical landmarks are grossly distorted.

Suprasellar arachnoid cysts: systematic analysis of 247 cases with long-term follow-up

At present, limited data exists to discuss the characteristics of suprasellar arachnoid cysts (SACs). The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between characteristics of cysts and outcomes, quantitatively analyze improvement in hydrocephalus, and evaluate the risk factors for the prognosis of SACs treated by endoscope. From June 2002 to 2017 December, 247 cases of SACs treated by endoscope in Beijing Tiantan Hospital were included in this study. The severity of hydrocephalus was evaluated by Evans' index (EI). The results showed that the slit-valve and the transparent/thin membrane were noted in 86.2% and 76.5% of overall patients, respectively, and the distribution differences among age-groups were statistically significant (p < 0.01). After a mean follow-up duration of 73.1 months, 18 patients underwent a reoperation. Ventriculocystostomy (VC) (hazard ratio (HR), 3.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-9.47; p = 0.024) and history of treatment (HR, 3.98; 95% CI, 1.31-12.31; p = 0.015) were adverse factors for reoperation rate. MRI at 1-year follow-up revealed mean decreases of 78.4% and 9.13% in cyst size and EI. No paraventricular edema was an adverse factor associated with the improvement in hydrocephalus (HR, 11.22; 95% CI, 5.43-23.18; p < 0.01). These results indicated that ventriculocystocisternostomy (VCC) and no history of treatment is favorable factors for prognosis of SACs treated by endoscope. If feasible, VCC is the optimal choice for SACs. Slit-valve phenomenon and transparent/thin membrane are correlated with age but did not influence the outcomes of endoscopic fenestration. The mechanism for the expansion of cysts may be different between child and adult patients. Paraventricular edema is a favorable factor for the improvement in hydrocephalus after endoscopic surgery.

Suprasellar arachnoid cysts in adults: clinical presentations, radiological features, and treatment outcomes

A tendency for suprasellar arachnoid cysts (SACs) to occur in young children is known. Data of adult SACs were rare in previous reports. The aim of this study is to discuss their clinical presentations, radiological features, and treatment outcomes based on 23 adult patients who underwent endoscopic fenestration in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2018. Preoperative cyst volume ranged from 12.3 to 72.5 cm³ (mean 39.8 ± 19.8). Endocrine disorders occurred in 7 (30.4%) patients. Hydrocephalus was observed in 20 patients. In the patients with hydrocephalus, the mean preoperative Evans' index (EI) (%) and frontooccipital horn ratio (FOHR) (%) were 44.8 (ranged 32.2-63.4) and 49.6 (ranged 36.7-59.8), respectively. A bivariate correlation showed significant positive association between preoperative cyst volume and preoperative EI or FOHR (Pearson correlation, r = 0.607, p = 0.005; r = 0.583, p = 0.007). The slit-valve phenomenon was observed in 13 (56.5%) patients. Pale/tenacious cyst walls were observed in 12 (52.2%) patients. Postoperatively, all patients achieved the improvement in clinical symptoms and a decrease in cyst size. The mean decreases in cyst volume, EI, and FOHR were 64.7%, 7.89%, and 5.8%, respectively. A bivariate correlation indicated the irrelevance between the postoperative cyst volume and postoperative EI or FOHR (Pearson correlation: r = 0.37, p = 0.11; r = 0.43, p = 0.054). These results reveal that there are a few differences in several aspects between adult patients and child patients. The severity of hydrocephalus is correlated with cyst size in adult patients. Additionally, the excellent outcomes in adult SACs can be obtained by endoscopic fenestration.

Postoperative patency assessment of Cystocisternostomy and Cystoventriculostomy stomas in cases with Arachnoidal cyst

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to determine stoma and flow patency with 3D SPACE T2 and 3D CISS sequences in cases with cystocisternostomy or cystoventriculostomy.

METHODS

A total of sixty three patients (total 106 MRI examinations) with endoscopic cystocisternostomy or cystoventriculostomy of arachnoid cyst underwent 1.5-3 T MRI to determine flow patency between June 2007 and April 2018. Postoperative results, the patients' clinic and arachnoid cyst volume were used to confirm stoma and flow patency in MRI.

RESULTS

The stoma was open and functional in forty three patients. Minimal flow was detected in five patients. Fifteen patients with closed stoma (total 17 MR images) were evaluated with the clinician. Patients' clinic, physical examination, and growth (for pediatric patients) were evaluated. Three of fifteen patients were re-operated. Operative findings and postoperative follow-up MR imaging findings were correlated with our preoperative MRI results. The findings were in compliance in both groups (operated-non-operated groups).

CONCLUSION

3D SPACE T2 and 3D CISS are effective sequences in addition to other routine conventional sequences to evaluate stoma and flow patency.

Management of Suprasellar Arachnoid Cysts in Children: A Systematic Literature Review Highlighting Modern Endoscopic Approaches

OBJECTIVE

Suprasellar arachnoid cysts are a rare but important pediatric neurosurgical pathology with unknown ideal management. They have been previously managed with techniques including open craniotomy with microsurgical fenestration, cystoperitoneal shunting, endoscopic ventriculocystostomy, and endoscopic ventriculocystocisternostomy (VCC), without a consistent consensus on the best surgical approach. We present an overview of the literature on surgical management of suprasellar arachnoid cysts.

METHODS

A literature search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted for all articles evaluating treatment modalities for suprasellar arachnoid cysts, using PubMed, OVID, and Web of Science.

RESULTS

Twenty-five articles on management of suprasellar arachnoid cysts in children were identified. Few published studies exist that examine different types of surgical management across a single institution. The majority of studies reported best clinical outcomes in patients treated with endoscopic approaches when compared with microsurgical fenestration or cystoperitoneal shunting, reporting lower rates of infection, shunt dependence, and need for revision in addition to better resolution of clinical symptoms. Furthermore, most studies argue that VCC is superior to ventriculocystostomy, offering better long-term improvement of clinical symptoms and lower rates of failure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study examines the current literature on suprasellar arachnoid cyst surgical management to conclude that an endoscopic approach in comparison with other approaches has the best outcomes. Of the endoscopic options available, VCC provides patients with the best long-term resolution of symptoms and the lowest need for revision. These findings should be further investigated with larger multicenter studies to further compare different surgical techniques and outcomes.

Low-Cost Interactive Image-Based Virtual Endoscopy for the Diagnosis and Surgical Planning of Suprasellar Arachnoid Cysts

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility and reliability of virtual endoscopy (VE) as a rapid, low-cost, and interactive tool for the diagnosis and surgical planning of suprasellar arachnoid cysts (SACs).

METHODS

Eighteen patients with SACs treated with endoscopic ventriculocystostomy were recruited, and 18 endoscopic patients treated with third ventriculostomy were randomly selected as a VE reconstruction control group. After loading their DICOM data into free 3D Slicer software, VE reconstruction was independently performed by 3 blinded clinicians and the time required for each reconstruction was recorded. Another 3 blinded senior neurosurgeons interactively graded the visibility of VE by watching video recordings of the endoscopic procedures. Based on the visibility scores, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to investigate the reliability of VE to diagnose SACs, and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the reliability of VE for surgical planning. In addition, the intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to estimate the consistency among the results of 3 reconstruction performers.

RESULTS

All 3 independent reconstructing performers successfully completed VE simulation for all cases, and the average reconstruction time was 10.2 ± 9.7 minutes. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the cyst visibility score was 0.96, implying its diagnostic value for SACs. The Bland-Altman plot indicated good agreement between VE and intraoperative viewings, suggesting the anatomic accuracy of the VE for surgical planning. In addition, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.81, which revealed excellent interperformer consistency of our simulation method.

CONCLUSIONS

This study substantiated the feasibility and reliability of VE as a rapid, low-cost, and interactive modality for diagnosis and surgical planning of SACs.

Ventricular endoscopy in the pediatric population: review of indications

INTRODUCTION

Neuroendoscopy has greatly impacted pediatric neurosurgery over the past few decades. Improved optics and microsurgical tools have allowed neuroendoscopes to be used for a multitude of neurosurgical procedures.

DISCUSSION

In this review article, we present the breadth of intraventricular neuroendoscopic procedures for the treatment of conditions ranging from hydrocephalus and brain tumors to congenital cysts and other pathologies. We critically discuss treatment indications and reported success rates for neuroendoscopic procedures. We also present novel approaches, technical nuances, and variations from recently published literature and as practiced in the authors' institution.

Acute hydrocephalus in a child with a third ventricle arachnoid cyst and coincidental enteroviral meningitis

We present a 2.5-year-old child suffering from acute hydrocephalus. First, the child was diagnosed with aseptic viral meningitis. The PCR of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was positive for enterovirus. Subsequently, MRI revealed that the hydrocephalus was caused by a cyst in the third ventricle. During ventriculoscopy, the cyst had all aspects of an arachnoid cyst. An endoscopic fenestration and partial removal of the cyst was performed, combined with a ventriculocisternostomy. The coincidental finding of viral meningitis and a third ventricle arachnoid cyst in a patient with acute hydrocephalus has, to our knowledge, not been described in literature before. If there is a relation between the enteroviral meningitis, the arachnoid cyst (possibly causing a pre-existing subclinical hydrocephalus) and the rapidly evolving neurological deterioration, remains speculative. Proposed mechanisms, by which the viral meningitis could accelerate the disease process, are slight brain swelling or increased CSF production. This rare combination of diagnoses could also be coincidental.

Pediatric intracranial arachnoid cysts: comparative effectiveness of surgical treatment options

PURPOSE

A variety of surgical approaches for the treatment of pediatric intracranial arachnoid cysts exist. In an effort to identify the optimal surgical treatment for this disorder, we developed a decision analytic model to evaluate outcomes of four surgical approaches in children. These included open craniotomy for cyst excision, open craniotomy for cyst fenestration, endoscopic cyst fenestration, and cystoperitoneal shunting.

METHODS

Pooled data were used to create evidence tables, from which we calculated incidence, relative risks, and summary outcomes in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for the four surgical treatments. Our study incorporated data up to 5 years postsurgery.

RESULTS

We analyzed 1,324 cases from 36 case series. There were no significant differences in outcome among the four surgical strategies. The QALYs (maximum of 5) for surgical approaches resulted in a range from 4.79 (for open craniotomy and excision) to 4.92 (for endoscopic fenestration).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall quality of life is comparable between patients undergoing open craniotomy for cyst excision or fenestration, endoscopic fenestration, and cystoperitoneal shunting up to 5 years after surgery. While each approach offers unique advantages and disadvantages, an individualized treatment strategy should be employed in the setting of surgical outcome equipoise.