Material and Methods: We performed surgery on five patients with pineal region epidermoid tumors at a single neurosurgical department between the years 1998 and 2006. Headache, diplopia and ataxia were the most common presenting findings. Parinauds syndrome was found in three patients. Hydrocephalus was demonstrated radiologically in two patients.
Results: Two patients were operated on with the occipital-transtentorial approach, two were operated on with the infratentorialsupracerebellar approach and one was operated on with van Wagenens approach. Recurrence of tumor was observed in one patient. One patient died at the first postoperative month due to ventriculitis.
Conclusion: Total removal of epidermoid tumors may provide good clinical recovery and may reduce the possibility of tumor recurrence and shunt placement.
Keywords : Epidermoid tumor, Pineal region, Surgery