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Subependymomas are benign tumors in the ventricles that grow from the ventricular wall into the spinal fluid spaces within the brain.
These lesions may obstruct spinal fluid flow and/or put pressure on surrounding structures, causing symptoms including headaches and confusion.
At UPMC, the preferred surgical treatment for subependymoma is Neuroendoport® surgery. Neuroendoport surgery gives surgeons access to the lesions through a dime-size channel. This minimally invasive approach offers benefits such as:
Subependymomas can be identified by imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans.
Your doctor will also ask you about your symptoms to determine whether there is a correlation to a subependymoma diagnosis.
These may include:
Surgery is the standard treatment for subependymomas.
UPMC's neurosurgical team thoroughly evaluates each patient before surgery. We try to find a path that is least disruptive to your brain, critical nerves, and ability to return to normal functioning after treatment.
Neuroendoport surgery offers a minimally invasive option for tumors within the ventricles (fluid spaces) or deep-seated tumors within the substance of the brain. A narrow tube or port allows surgeons to access the subependymomas through a tiny incision in the scalp, in contrast to traditional brain surgery.
Neuroendoport® Surgery
This animation illustrates the removal of a metastasis using the Neuroendoport technique.
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