ABSTRACT
Pediatric patients with brain tumors usually present with signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure, which is often a consequence of tumor-related hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus occurs in this situation because pediatric tumors are usually large, tend to arise in the midline, and cause obstruction of the ventricular system. In adults, obstructive, tumor-related hydrocephalus is far less common, but communicating hydrocephalus secondary to carcinomatosis does occur relatively frequently. While the treatment of the tumor itself is obviously the primary concern for the surgeon and patient alike, the abnormal CSF dynamics are important as they may result in significant morbidity and delay the delivery of adjuvant therapies. The aim of this chapter is to review the management of tumor-related hydrocephalus in both adults and children.
