Endoscopic intraventricular biopsy of infundibular Langerhans cell histiocytosis: case report.

OBJECTIVE

Surgical biopsy of isolated infundibular lesions is indicated in patients who are symptomatic or whose imaging suggests a treatable lesion. Early therapy can prevent irreversible neurological or endocrinological damage and, potentially, metastasis. These considerations justify the small risk associated with surgery.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 5-year-old boy presented with diabetes insipidus and an enhancing lesion of the pituitary stalk without evidence of extracranial disease.

INTERVENTION: The lesion was biopsied via an endoscopic intraventricular approach without complications. Pathological examination revealed Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic intraventricular biopsy can be considered as a less invasive alternative to craniotomy in patients with infundibular lesions protruding superiorly into the third ventricle.