Abstract
Background Central neurocytoma (CN) is a rare neurogenic intraventricular tumor that accounts for 0.25–0.5% of all intracranial tumors. Surgery is the cornerstone of therapy in most instances. Postoperative complications such as intracranial infection and hydrocephalus may be serious and even fatal. However, there are few reports on the management of complications after CN resection.Case presentation: The authors described a 41-year-old male patient, whose CN was near the interventricular foramen with a high Ki-67 index. Seven days following surgery, an intracranial infection struck the patient. On the seventeenth day, the patient experienced signs of obstructive hydrocephalus, including headache, unconsciousness, and gatism. One month after surgery, the patient recovered and was discharged with no sequela through high-grade antibiotics, lumbar cisterna drainage and external ventricular drainage.Conclusions For CN with elevated Ki-67 or growing in the lateral ventricle, particularly in the anterior region close to the interventricular foramen, obstructive hydrocephalus was more likely to be complicated after surgery. The temporary external ventricular drainage may be a substitute for VP shunt, avoiding maintenance risks and complications of VP shunt during long-term drainage. Besides, we also need to etiologically personalize the treatment approaches based on the various stages of patient for maximum clinical benefit.