Transcortical surgery for lateral ventricular tumors

The transcortical technique makes it possible to resect lesions in each of the five regions of the lateral ventricle. It provides superior microsurgical working space and flexibility for maneuvering within the lateral ventricle. The key to a successful transcortical approach is an understanding of the functional anatomy of eloquent cortex to be broached, the location of the lesion, and its vascular supply. A clear understanding of the advantages and limitations of the transcortical approach makes performing this procedure for resection of large lesions in the ventricle both safe and effective. The majority of the patients in this series (86%) had a good outcome, returning to baseline functional status and suffering minimal morbidity. In the microsurgical era, transcortical surgery-related postoperative morbidity and outcome are dependent more on tumor histological type and site of origin than on approach.