Surgical strategies and technical methodologies in optimal management of craniopharyngioma and masses affecting the third ventricular chamber.

Management of craniopharyngiomas and masses affecting the third ventricular chamber represents one of the most challenging problems confronting contemporary neurological surgeons. Given the devastating sequelae of surgical complications involved in approaches to the deep cerebral midline, surgical management requires a combination of sophisticated imaging, diagnostic pathology and surgical technique including ventricular microsurgery and stereotaxy and its attendant refinements. Surgical and non-surgical management is based upon the structural presentation of these masses as defined by detailed imaging studies. Operative objectives include histological definition, maximally feasible excision, cerebral spinal fluid diversion and relief of neurologic deficits created by masses affecting the third ventricular chamber.