Abstract

Objective: Ventricular system pathologies encompass a broad and heterogeneous spectrum, including hydrocephalus, ventriculitis, and intraventricular obstructive lesions, often requiring surgical intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the etiological spectrum, surgical indications, and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing ventricular surgical procedures.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, a total of 51 ventricular surgical procedures performed between July 2020 and March 2026 were analyzed. Repeated interventions were consolidated under individual patients, and analyzed at both procedure level (51 surgeries) and patient level (39 patients). The mean age was 10.2±14.0 years, with a median of 3.0 years (range: 0.25–46). Demographic data, underlying diagnoses, surgical indications, and etiological factors were systematically reviewed and classified.

Results: The most common surgical indication was tumor-related obstructive pathology (23.5%), followed by shunt dysfunction (19.6%) and infection (17.6%). Congenital anomalies and cystic lesions were less frequently observed. A substantial proportion of patients required multiple surgical interventions, reflecting the chronic and dynamic nature of ventricular system pathologies.

Conclusion: Ventricular system pathologies represent complex clinical entities with heterogeneous etiologies and a high likelihood of requiring repeated surgical interventions. Accurate etiological assessment is essential for optimal patient management and may contribute to improved treatment strategies in this challenging patient population.

Keywords: ventricular system, hydrocephalus, ventriculitis, shunt dysfunction, neurosurgery, neuroendoscopy

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Copyright and license

Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite

1.
Göker B, Hergünsel ÖB, Baysa AH, Ağır MN. Etiological spectrum and clinical characteristics of cases requiring surgical intervention in ventricular system pathologies: A single-center retrospective analysis - Ventricular Surgery Series. Sinir Sistemi Cerrahisi Derg 2026;11(1):35-40. https://doi.org/10.54306/SSCD.2026.236