Tumours of the Third Cerebral Ventricle

The nerve structures which make up the walls of the third cerebral ventricle provide for important functions, in particular maintaining homeostasis, memory mechanisms and visual functions. Their gradual impairment by tumour can be compensated for various time periods. When the tumour clinically manifests, it may already be of significant extend, or it can cause an extensive obstructive hydrocephalus. Surgical manipulation of impaired nerve structures while accessing the tumour as well as during its resection may seriously worsen the patient's condition. Therefore, in the past surgery focused in particular on biopsy and the restoration of cerebrospinal fluid circulation. The improvement in imaging diagnostics and microsurgical techniques has enabled us to reach almost any part of the brain without any permanent post-surgical deficit. As a result, not only the tumorous tissue but also its relationship to the surrounding structures is sufficiently detected. The surgeon can identify the optimal extent of tumour resection and remove, under favourable anatomical conditions, the tumour radically without exposing the patient to any risks. Within our patient group, this was possible in two-thirds of the patients. However, it depends on the tumour location and histological nature.