4 common locations where brain tumors are prone to hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal increase in intracellular or extracellular fluid in brain tissue caused by a variety of intracerebral and extracerebral diseases. It is the most common cause of increased intracranial pressure in patients with brain tumors. Hydrocephalus is often prone to occur in the pineal region, foramen of the ventricle, third ventricle, posterior cranial fossa and other locations.

1. Interventricular foramen area

Common tumors: glioma

Cause: The interventricular foramen is the channel for cerebrospinal fluid to flow into the third ventricle. Tumors occurring in this area often block the interventricular foramen, causing hydrocephalus in one side of the ventricle.

2. Third ventricle:

Common tumors: glioma, craniopharyngioma

The third ventricle is connected to the lateral ventricles through the interventricular foramen in front and to the fourth ventricle in the back. It is the only way for cerebrospinal fluid to circulate in the lateral ventricles on both sides. When a tumor occurs and blocks this area, hydrocephalus may occur in both ventricles, causing symmetrical enlargement.

3. Pineal region

Common tumors: glioma, germ cell tumor

The pineal gland is located between the anterior colliculus and thalamus in the midbrain, behind the aqueduct between the third and fourth ventricles. Even if the tumor is small, it may affect the flow of cerebrospinal fluid into the fourth ventricle through the aqueduct, causing hydrocephalus. When hydrocephalus occurs, the lateral ventricles and the third ventricle on both sides usually expand at the same time.

4. Posterior Cranial Fossa:

Common tumors: glioma, acoustic neuroma, chordoma, meningioma, etc.

The posterior cranial fossa mainly includes the fourth ventricle, the cerebellopontine angle, the foramen magnum, and the slope. When a tumor appears in the posterior cranial fossa, it often causes the expansion and accumulation of water in the ventricles above the fourth ventricle.