Treatment and prognosis of posterior fossa tumor combined with hydrocephalus in children: an analysis of influencing factors

Objective To explore whether preoperative treatment of hydrocephalus could change the occurrence of postoperative hydrocephalus after tumor resection in children with posterior fossa tumor, and analyze the risk factors of postoperative hydrocephalus. Methods Sixty-three children with posterior fossa tumors accompanied with hydrocephalus, admitted to our hospital from January 2003 to December 2009, were chosen; conservative treatment of preoperative hydrocephalus was performed in 43 patients and surgery was performed in the other 20 patients. The clinical data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed and the occurrence of postoperative hydrocephalus in patients performed conservative treatment and tumor resection was compared. Gender, age, Evans index, location of the tumor, extent of the tumor resection, pathology of the tumor were analyzed as risk factors using logistic regression. Results Occurrence of hydrocephalus after tumor resection showed no statistical differences between patients accepted conservative treatment (14/43, 32.6%) and patients received surgical treatment ([8/20, 40.0%], P=0.564). Evans index, location of the tumor and extent of resection were related to hydrocephalus relapse after tumor resection(P=0.029, P=0.036, P=0.038). Conclusion Preoperative treatment of hydrocephalus could not change the occurrence of hydrocephalus after tumor resection. Evans index, location of the tumor and extent of tumor resection are all risk factors of postoperative hydrocephalus. Key words: Hydrocephalus; Children; Posterior fossa tumor