Dr. Patibandla presented a consecutive series of 51 parafascicular intraventricular tumor resections, representing the first documented Indian adoption and the largest reported series to date using this modern, anatomy-respecting approach.
At the annual scientific meeting of the Neurological Society of India (NSI) 2025, a clinically focused presentation by Dr. Mohana Rao Patibandla drew attention to an evolving surgical strategy for one of neurosurgery’s most challenging problem areas—intraventricular brain tumors.
Dr. Patibandla presented a consecutive series of 51 parafascicular intraventricular tumor resections, representing the first documented Indian adoption and the largest reported series to date using this modern, anatomy-respecting approach. The dataset included both pediatric and adult patients and was discussed strictly within an academic and outcome-oriented framework.
A Long-Standing Surgical Challenge
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Tumors arising within the brain’s ventricular system are uncommon but technically demanding. Their deep location and proximity to eloquent white-matter tracts have traditionally necessitated transcortical or transcallosal routes—approaches that, while effective, carry recognized risks of neurological morbidity.
Globally, the parafascicular approach has emerged over the past decade as an alternative strategy. By navigating natural white-matter corridors with tubular access systems, the technique aims to reduce collateral injury during deep brain surgery. Until now, however, Indian data supporting this approach had been limited.
What the NSI 2025 Series Demonstrated
According to the data presented:
Tumors involving the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles were included
Both children and adults were treated using a consistent minimally invasive philosophy
High rates of gross or near-total resection were achieved
Approach-related neurological deficits were limited, suggesting favorable functional preservation
Operative blood loss and surgical duration remained controlled despite lesion depth
The presentation emphasized outcomes, safety parameters, and technical considerations rather than novelty.
First Sustained Use in India
While parafascicular intraventricular surgery has been reported from select international centers, the NSI 2025 presentation marked the first sustained and systematic use of this technique in India, with a consecutive case volume not previously reported from the country.
Conference delegates observed that the importance of the series lies in its consistency and reproducibility, demonstrating that advanced minimally invasive neurosurgical methods can be implemented within an Indian tertiary-care setting.
Measured Academic Discourse
Notably, the discussion avoided a promotional tone. It addressed:
Patient selection and anatomical planning
Learning-curve considerations for complex ventricular surgery
Current limitations of sample size
The need for longer-term neurocognitive and quality-of-life outcome data
Such framing positioned the work as a foundational Indian dataset, rather than a definitive endpoint.
Implications for Neurosurgical Practice
As neurosurgery increasingly shifts toward function-preserving, minimally disruptive techniques, the availability of indigenous clinical data becomes critical for training, guideline development, and patient counseling.
The 51-case parafascicular intraventricular tumor series presented at NSI 2025 may therefore serve as an early reference point for future Indian studies, reflecting a broader transition toward anatomy-respecting deep brain surgery.
About the Presenter
Dr. Mohana Rao Patibandla is a senior neurosurgeon based in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and the Founder–CMD of Dr. Rao’s Hospital. He has over two decades of experience in brain and spine surgery, with advanced training in minimally invasive neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, skull base surgery, and functional neurosurgery in India and abroad.
