Infradentate Approach to the Fourth Ventricle with Tubular Retraction System for Medulloblastoma: Feasibility of a Minimally Invasive Technique to Avoid Anatomical Complications in a Pediatric Patient.

Abstract

Introduction: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant tumor in the pediatric population. Current treatment of these lesions includes maximum safe resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Quality of life for these patients as well as postoperative complications remains with poorer prognosis compared to other posterior fossa tumors. Therefore, the surgical approach should be tailored to diminish the probability of coursing with postoperative complications such as cerebellar mutism. Minimally invasive techniques with tubular retractors have been described for supratentorial lesions. However, evidence remains scarce for lesions in the posterior fossa. Similarly, there are no available reports of the use of these techniques in pediatric patients.

Case presentation: We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with a medulloblastoma. An infradentate approach was elected as the course of action looking to reduce the risk of postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome. In the 2-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic with no cerebellar signs nor recurrence of the lesion.

Conclusion: We present the first case of a medulloblastoma treated with tubular ports in our center looking to discuss its feasibility for the treatment of posterior fossa tumors in pediatric patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of transcranial ports used in a pediatric patient for the resection of a medulloblastoma. Infradentate tubular resection could be a feasible and reproducible approach in pediatric patients, reducing the risk of injury to anatomical structures and cerebellar mutism.