الفهرس 
Symptoms and signs of posterior fossa tumors in childrenOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The posterior cranial fossa is the largest & deepest of the three cranial fossae, that contains the most complex intracranial anatomy. In approximately one eights of the intracranial space, pathways regulating consciousness, vital autonomic functions, motor activities, and sensory reception for the head, body & extremities could be found; in addition to the centers for controlling balance & gait.
Malignant brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death among children and the second most common type of pediatric cancer.
With the exception of the first year of life, infratentorial brain tumors are more frequent in the first decade than tumors in the supratentorial compartment. In particular these are cerebellar low-grade astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, brainstem gliomas and ependymomas of the fourth ventricle.
The association of posterior fossa tumors with hydrocephalus, each a potentially lethal condition necessitates urgent surgical treatment in these seriously ill children.
Management of hydrocephalus associated with posterior fossa tumors in children has always been problematic.
Although in the past, placement of a shunt in these patients was often considered to be appropriate preoperative treatment, an improvement in the availability and type of neuroimaging devices has enabled a markedly earlier diagnosis to be made. This coupled with a growing awareness of common complications associated with ventricular shunting and rarer complications more specific to this patient population (such as upward herniation, hemorrhage of the tumor, and peritoneal seeding of the intracranial tumor); caused neurosurgeons to question the need for routine shunt insertion.
Internal CSF diversion is an appealing management option because of the obstructive nature of the hydrocephalus associated with these tumors.
Endoscopic third Ventriculostomy should be considered as an alternative procedure to ventriculoperitoneal shunting and external ventricular draining for the emergency control of severe hydrocephalus caused by posterior fossa tumors.