Supraorbital endoscopic approach to colloid cysts.

BACKGROUND Surgical approaches to colloid cysts of the third ventricle have evolved over time. In recent years, endoscopy has been recognized as an effective alternative to open surgery. The disadvantage of endoscopic treatment is the difficulty in controlling the adhesion of the cyst to the roof of the third ventricle and in obtaining complete removal of the cyst. OBJECTIVE To design and carry out a supraorbital approach to obtain a better viewing angle of the cyst and better control of the adhesion of the cyst to the roof of the third ventricle. METHODS From September 2005 to February 2008, we operated on 7 consecutive patients with colloid cysts in the third ventricle. All procedures were performed with the endoscopic supraorbital approach. The endoscopic procedure was performed with a rigid STORZ endoscope with 3 working channels. In 4 patients, the surgical supraorbital trajectory was planned with the help of a navigator. RESULTS The procedures lasted between 60 and 110 minutes, including the registration on the navigation system. Near-total removal of the cyst was achieved in 6 patients. All patients were discharged within 6 days. CONCLUSION Endoscopic treatment may be an effective and safe alternative to open surgical craniotomy. Our series shows that the endoscopic supraorbital endoscopic resection is a valuable approach to colloid cysts of the third ventricle.