Predictors of ventricular shunt survival in neoplastic hydrocephalus: a retrospective cohort study of 239…

Cohort studyJournal of neurosurgery· Jun 2026

Predictors of ventricular shunt survival in neoplastic hydrocephalus: a retrospective cohort study of 239 patients.

Eric A Grin, Andrew C Kelleher, Daniel N de Souza … David H Harter

Read paper

Pediatric NeurosurgeryCohort studyPrognosisQ1IF 3.4

Intraventricular tumor location most strongly associated with shunt failure at 5 years

Predictors of ventricular shunt survival in neoplastic hydrocephalus: a retrospective cohort study of 239 patients.

Eric A Grin … David H Harter

Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2026 · Q1 in Surgery

Background

Hydrocephalus secondary to CNS tumors is common and carries high shunt failure rates, yet predictors of shunt survival remain poorly defined.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to identify patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related predictors of shunt outcomes in neoplastic hydrocephalus.

Methods

Were identified using validated natural language processing and manual review.

n = 239 patients

OR 4.39

Results

OR 4.39

intraventricular tumors carried far higher odds of shunt failure by 5 years

n = 239 patients

More results

Preoperative neurological symptoms (seizures and visual/auditory deficits) were associated with higher odds of single and multiple shunt revisions (OR range 1.92-2.15, p ≤ 0.03).

WHO grade 2 tumors trended toward greater late (5-year) failure risk (OR 2.8, p = 0.06).

Obstruction accounted for 35.6% of shunt failures, followed by infection.

More results

Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy were not associated with shunt failure after adjustment for survival differences.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

In this largest-to-date cohort of patients who underwent shunt placement for neoplastic hydrocephalus, the factors associated with shunt failure were intraventricular tumor location, multiple resections, and preoperative neurological symptoms.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Adjuvant therapies had minimal impact. These findings support individualized risk stratification and targeted follow-up and provide a foundation for targeted prospective studies.

Predictors of ventricular shunt survival in neoplastic hydrocephalus: a retrospective cohort study of 239 patients.

Predictors of ventricular shunt survival in neoplastic hydrocephalus: a retrospective cohort study of 239 patients.

Related papers