Abstract
As third ventricle tumors are deeply located and the surrounding neural/vascular structures are crucial, the surgical treatment for these lesions is still significantly challenging. In the anterior part, craniopharyngioma is most common, and germ cell tumors in the posterior part. Several approaches are specifically adopted for these lesions. The most common approach for craniopharyngioma is via the interhemispheric trans-lamina terminalis approach. On the other hand, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and tumor biopsy for pineal lesions followed by chemo-radiation treatment is most popular nowadays. The indication of a microsurgical approach for tumors in the third ventricle of the posterior part becomes less. However, microsurgical treatment is still necessary for some lesions such as pineal parenchymal tumors or tentorial incisural meningioma via the occipital tran-stentorial approach or infratentorial supracerebellar approach. According to the tumor location, tumor size, tumor character, or surgeons' experience, it is beneficial to adopt the safest and most familiar approaches for third ventricle tumors.
