Postoperative hydrocephalus is a high-risk lethal factor for patients with low-grade optic pathway glioma.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prognostic factors of patients with low-grade optic pathway glioma (OPG) and the optimal treatment to reduce the incidence of postoperative hydrocephalus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This single-center study retrospectively analyzed data from 66 patients with OPGs who underwent surgery. The patients were followed, and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were determined. The effects of different treatments on the hydrocephalus of patients were compared.

RESULTS: Postoperative hydrocephalus was identified as a factor to increase the risk of mortality by 1.99-fold ( p  = .028). And, 5-year survival rate was significantly lower among patients with postoperative hydrocephalus ( p = .027). The main factors leading to preoperative hydrocephalus in patients are large tumor volume and invasion into the third ventricle. Gross total resections (GTR) could reduce the risk of long-term hydrocephalus ( p  = .046). Age younger than 4 years ( p  = .046) and tumor invasion range/classification ( p  = .029) are the main factors to reduce the five-year survival rate. Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) had no significant effects on OS. Extraventricular drainage (EVD) was not associated with perioperative infection ( p  = .798 > .05) and bleeding ( p  = .09 > .05). Compared with 2 stage surgery (external ventricular drainage or ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) was first placed, followed by tumor resection), 1 stage surgery (direct resection of tumor) had no complication increase.

CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative hydrocephalus is mostly obstructive hydrocephalus, and it is an important factor that reduces the OS of patients with low-grade OPGs. Surgery to remove the tumor to the greatest extent improves cerebrospinal fluid circulation is effective at reducing the incidence postoperative hydrocephalus. For patients whose ventricles are still dilated after surgery, in addition to considering poor ventricular compliance, they need to be aware of the persistence and progression of hydrocephalus.