Intraventricular Brain Tumor
The cerebral ventricles are chambers within the brain that contain a clear-colorless fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF serves as an excellent medium for endoscopy given the clarity and space. Since many varieties of brain tumors can occur in the ventricles, biopsy is commonly recommended in order to define the best type of therapy. Conventional procedures for tumor biopsy involve either a needle biopsy using a frame attached to the skull or an open surgical procedure. Brain tumors situated in the intraventricular compartment are amenable to an endoscopic biopsy or resection. Endoscopic biopsy for intraventricular brain tumors avoids many of the inherent risks associated with conventional surgical approaches. Because these tumors are typically situated deep within the brain, the ability to approach these tumors with a minimally invasive technique offers a very significant advantage to the patient.