Surgical approaches to posterior third ventricular tumors.

A variety of surgical approaches to the posterior third ventricle and pineal region exist. The choice of approach is influenced by the exact location of the lesion, its expected pathologic findings, and the comfort level of the operating surgeon with the approach that is being considered. For most pineal region masses that are situated in the midline below the deep venous system, we favor the supracerebellar-infratentorial approach in the sitting position. For pineal region lesions that displace the deep venous system inferiorly or have significant lateral extension, we prefer the occipital-transtentorial approach in the three-quarter prone or sitting position. For lesions that are truly in the posterior third ventricle without extension posterior to the splenium, we prefer the interhemispheric-transcallosal approach in the lateral position.