Objective To investigate the optimal therapeutic strategy by retrospectively reviewing the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with central neurocytoma (CN).Methods The clinical, imaging, and pathological characteristics of 18 consecutive patients with CN who were admitted to our hospital from June 2006 to April 2013 were respectively reviewed. Among 16 patients with CN located in the lateral ventricles, 5 patients underwent operations via the transcallosal approach and 11 patients underwent operations via the transcortical approach. Two patients with CN located in the fourth ventricle underwent operations via the suboccipital approach.Results Total resection was achieved in 13 patients, and subtotal resection was performed in 5 patients. One patient died after surgery and one patient abandoned treatment due to recurrence at 4 months after surgery. One patient was lost to follow up and 15 patients were followed up for 37.9 months (range, 14-96 months). There was no recurrence or further growth of the residual tumor during follow-up.Conclusions The study suggests that initial surgery is the optimal treatment choice for CN. The patients who do not achieve total resection need postoperative radiotherapy.