Retrosigmoid intradural suprameatal approach to Meckel's cave and the middle fossa: surgical technique and outcome

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madjid Samii ◽  
Marcos Tatagiba ◽  
Gustavo A. Carvalho

Object. The goal of this study was to determine whether some petroclival tumors can be safely and efficiently treated using a modified retrosigmoid petrosal approach that is called the retrosigmoid intradural suprameatal approach (RISA).Methods. The RISA was introduced in 1983, and since that time 12 patients harboring petroclival meningiomas have been treated using this technique. The RISA includes a retrosigmoid craniotomy and drilling of the suprameatus petrous bone, which is located above and anterior to the internal auditory meatus, thus providing access to Meckel's cave and the middle fossa.Radical tumor resection (Simpson Grade I or II) was achieved in nine (75%) of the 12 patients. Two patients underwent subtotal resection (Simpson Grade III), and one patient underwent complete resection of tumor at the posterior fossa with subtotal resection at the middle fossa. There were no deaths or severe complications in this series; all patients did well postoperatively, being independent at the time of their last follow-up examinations (mean 5.6 years). Neurological deficits included facial paresis in one patient and worsening of hearing in two patients.Conclusions. Theapproach described here is a useful modification of the retrosigmoid approach, which allows resection of large petroclival tumors without the need for supratentorial craniotomies. Although technically meticulous, this approach is not time-consuming; it is safe and can produce good results. This is the first report on the use of this approach for petroclival meningiomas.

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. E1
Author(s):  
Madjid Samii ◽  
Marcos Tatagiba ◽  
Gustavo A. Carvalho

Object The goal of this study was to determine whether some petroclival tumors can be safely and efficiently treated using a modified retrosigmoid petrosal approach that is called the retrosigmoid intradural suprameatal approach (RISA). Methods The RISA was introduced in 1983, and since that time 12 patients harboring petroclival meningiomas have been treated using this technique. The RISA includes a retrosigmoid craniotomy and drilling of the suprameatus petrous bone, which is located above and anterior to the internal auditory meatus, thus providing access to Meckel's cave and the middle fossa. Radical tumor resection (Simpson Grade I or II) was achieved in nine (75%) of the 12 patients. Two patients underwent subtotal resection (Simpson Grade III), and one patient underwent complete resection of tumor at the posterior fossa with subtotal resection at the middle fossa. There were no deaths or severe complications in this series; all patients did well postoperatively, being independent at the time of their last follow-up examinations (mean 5.6 years). Neurological deficits included facial paresis in one patient and worsening of hearing in two patients. Conclusions The approach described here is a useful modification of the retrosigmoid approach, which allows resection of large petroclival tumors without the need for supratentorial craniotomies. Although technically meticulous, this approach is not time consuming; it is safe and can produce good results. This is the first report on the use of this approach for petroclival meningiomas.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Fehlings ◽  
William S. Tucker

✓ A case of a cavernous hemangioma located within Meckel's cave and involving the gasserian ganglion is described in a patient presenting with facial pain and a trigeminal nerve deficit. Although these lesions have been reported to occur in the middle fossa, this is believed to be the first case of such a vascular malformation arising solely from within Meckel's cave.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 1115-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Kanner ◽  
Michael A. Vogelbaum ◽  
Marc R. Mayberg ◽  
Joseph P. Weisenberger ◽  
Gene H. Barnett

Object. Intracranial navigation by using intraoperative magnetic resonance (iMR) imaging allows the surgeon to reassess anatomical relationships in near—real time during brain tumor surgery. The authors report their initial experience with a novel neuronavigation system coupled to a low-field iMR imaging system. Methods. Between October 2000 and December 2001, 70 neurosurgical procedures were performed using the mobile 0.12-tesla PoleStar N-10 iMR imaging system. The cases included 38 craniotomies, 15 brain biopsies, nine transsphenoidal approaches, and one drainage of a subdural hematoma. Tumor resection was performed using the awake method in seven of 38 cases. Of the craniotomies, image-confirmed complete or radical tumor resection was achieved in 28 cases, subtotal resection in eight cases, and open biopsies in two cases. Tumor resection was controlled with the use of image guidance until the final intraoperative images demonstrated that there was no residual tumor or that no critical brain tissue was at risk of compromise. In each stereotactic biopsy the location of the biopsy needle could be verified by intraoperative imaging and diagnostic tissue was obtained. Complications included a case of aseptic meningitis after a biopsy and one case of temporary intraoperative failure of the anesthesia machine. Awake craniotomies were performed successfully with no permanent neurological complications. Conclusions. Intraoperative MR image—based neuronavigation is feasible when using the Odin PoleStar N-10 system for tumor resections that require multiple other surgical adjuncts including awake procedures, cortical mapping, monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials, or electrocorticography. Use of the system for brain biopsies offers the opportunity of immediate verification of the needle tip location. Standard neurosurgical drills, microscopes, and other equipment can be used safely in conjunction with this iMR imaging system.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. E10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Hsiang Liao ◽  
Jui-To Wang ◽  
Chun-Fu Lin ◽  
Shao-Ching Chen ◽  
Chung-Jung Lin ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEDespite the advances in skull base techniques, large petroclival meningiomas (PCMs) still pose a challenge to neurosurgeons. The authors’ objective of this study was to describe a pretemporal trans–Meckel’s cave transtentorial approach for large PCMs and to report the surgical outcomes.METHODSFrom 2014 to 2017, patients harboring large PCMs (> 3 cm) and undergoing their first resection via this procedure at the authors’ institute were included. In combination with pretemporal transcavernous and anterior transpetrosal approaches, the trans–Meckel’s cave transtentorial route was created. Surgical details are described and a video demonstrating the procedure is included. Retrospective review of the medical records and imaging studies was performed.RESULTSA total of 18 patients (6 men and 12 women) were included in this study, with mean age of 53 years. The mean sizes of the preoperative and postoperative PCMs were 4.36 cm × 4.09 cm × 4.13 cm (length × width × height) and 0.83 cm × 1.08 cm × 0.75 cm, respectively. Gross-total removal was performed in 7 patients, near-total removal (> 95%) in 7 patients, and subtotal removal in 4 patients (> 90% in 3 patients and > 85% in 1 patient). There were no surgical deaths or patients with postoperative hemiplegia. Surgical complications included transient cranial nerve (CN) III palsy (all patients, resolved in 3 months), transient CN VI palsy (2 patients), CN IV palsy (3 patients, partial recovery), hydrocephalus (3 patients), and CSF otorrhea (1 patient). Temporal lobe retraction–related neurological deficits were not observed.CONCLUSIONSA pretemporal trans–Meckel’s cave transtentorial approach offers large surgical exposure and multiple trajectories to the suprasellar, interpeduncular, prepontine, and upper-half clival regions without overt traction, which is mandatory to remove large PCMs. To unlock Meckel’s cave where a large PCM lies abutting the cave, pretemporal transcavernous and anterior transpetrosal approaches are prerequisites to create adequate exposure for the final trans–Meckel’s cave step.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (videosuppl2) ◽  
pp. V8 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Liu

The surgical management of petroclival meningiomas remains a formidable challenge. These tumors are deep in the base of the skull and arise medial to the fifth cranial nerve. In this operative video, the author demonstrates the extended middle fossa approach with anterior petrosectomy to resect an upper petroclival meningioma extending into Meckel’s cave with brainstem compression. This approach is very useful for accessing deep tumors located above and below the tentorium, and between the fifth and seventh cranial nerves. Access to Meckel’s cave is readily achieved by opening the fibrous ring of the porous trigeminus. This video demonstrates the operative technique and surgical nuances of the skull base approach, useful anatomic landmarks of the middle fossa rhomboid for safe petrosectomy drilling, pearls for cranial nerve and neuro-otologic preservation, and exposure of Meckel’s cave. A gross-total resection was achieved, and the patient was neurologically intact. In summary, the extended middle fossa approach with anterior petrosectomy is an important strategy in the armamentarium for surgical management of petroclival meningiomas.The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/jttwJIYPHC8.


1978 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takanori Fukushima

✓ A new 1.45-mm endoscope is described that can be inserted through a thin-walled No. 16 needle. The instrument was used in 10 cadavers for endoscopic exploration of the cisterna magna, the C1–2 space, Meckel's cave, and the cerebellopontine angle. Its potential clinical application is discussed.


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 684-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Beck ◽  
Arnold H. Menezes

✓ A series of 12 patients with mass lesions arising from Meckel's cave is presented. Patients' age on presentation ranged from 13 months to 71 years. Nine of the 12 patients had symptoms referable to the fifth cranial nerve, but only three complained of facial pain. The 12 patients presented eight different pathological entities, including meningioma, lipoma, schwannoma, malignant melanotic schwannoma, arachnoid cyst, neurofibroma, epidermoid tumor, and chordoma. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were most useful in localizing the lesion to Meckel's cave. All 12 patients underwent a subtemporal approach to the lesion, and gross total removal was achieved in 11. Postoperative results were excellent with no increased neurological deficits seen 3 months postoperatively. Most patients had resolution of the cranial nerve deficits except for fifth nerve function, which was impaired in nine patients postoperatively. This series demonstrates that lesions in Meckel's cave can have a varied and unusual presentation, as well as an assortment of pathology. Total removal of lesions in this area resulted in relief of symptoms in most patients, with minimum morbidity.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl R. Fourney ◽  
Julie E. York ◽  
Zvi R. Cohen ◽  
Dima Suki ◽  
Laurence D. Rhines ◽  
...  

Object. The treatment of atlantoaxial spinal metastases is complicated by the region's unique biomechanical and anatomical characteristics. Patients most frequently present with pain secondary to instability; neurological deficits are rare. Recently, some authors have performed anterior approaches (transoral or extraoral) for resection of upper cervical metastases. The authors review their experience with a surgical strategy that emphasizes posterior stabilization of the spine and avoidance of poorly tolerated external orthoses such as the rigid cervical collar or halo vest. Methods. The authors performed a retrospective review of 19 consecutively treated patients with C-1 or C-2 metastases who underwent surgery at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1994 and 2001. Visual analog pain scores were reduced at 1 and 3 months (p < 0.005, Wilcoxon signed-rank test); however, evaluation of pain at 6 months and 1 year was limited by the remaining number of surviving patients. Analgesic medication consumption was unchanged. There were no cases of neurological decline or sudden death secondary to residual or recurrent atlantoaxial disease during the follow-up period. One patient underwent revision of hardware at 11 months. The mean follow-up period was 8 months (range 1–32 months). Median survival determined by Kaplan—Meier analysis was 6.1 months (95% confidence interval 2.99–9.21). Conclusions. Occipitocervical stabilization provided durable pain relief and preservation of ambulatory status over the remaining life span of patients. Because of the palliative goals of surgery, the authors have not found an indication for anterior-approach tumor resection in these patients. Successful stabilization obviates the need for an external orthosis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. 960-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander M. Gorbach ◽  
John D. Heiss ◽  
Leonid Kopylev ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield

Object. Although clinical imaging defines the anatomical relationship between a brain tumor and the surrounding brain and neurological deficits indicate the neurophysiological consequences of the tumor, the effect of a brain tumor on vascular physiology is less clear. Methods. An infrared camera was used to measure the temperature of the cortical surface before, during, and after removal of a mass in 34 patients (primary brain tumor in 21 patients, brain metastases in 10 and falx meningioma, cavernous angioma, and radiation necrosis—astrocytosis in one patient each). To establish the magnitude of the effect on blood flow induced by the tumor, the images were compared with those from a group of six patients who underwent temporal lobectomy for epilepsy. In four cases a cerebral artery was temporarily occluded during the course of the surgery and infrared emissions from the cortex before and after occlusion were compared to establish the relationship of local temperature to regional blood flow. Discrete temperature gradients were associated with surgically verified lesions in all cases. Depending on the type of tumor, the cortex overlying the tumor was either colder or warmer than the surrounding cortex. Spatial reorganization of thermal gradients was observed after tumor resection. Temperature gradients of the cortex in patients with tumors exceeded those measured in the cortex of patients who underwent epilepsy surgery. Conclusions. Brain tumors induce changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the cortex, which can be made visible by performing infrared imaging during cranial surgery. A reduction in CBF beyond the tumor margin improves after removal of the lesion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (S 05) ◽  
pp. S404-S406
Author(s):  
Ken Matsushima ◽  
Michihiro Kohno ◽  
Nobuyuki Nakajima ◽  
Norio Ichimasu

When operating on difficult skull base lesions, it is essential to be able to handle unexpected intraoperative findings or troubles, while achieving maximal lesion removal and minimal functional deficit. This video demonstrates a case of trochlear nerve repair that was performed during the retrosigmoid suprameatal approach for treatment of a petrotentorial meningioma, extending into the Meckel's cave. The patient is a 47-year-old woman with a right petrotentorial meningioma, extending into the Meckel's cave. The retrosigmoid suprameatal approach was performed with preservation of the superior petrosal vein. However, a divided trochlear nerve was incidentally found during tumor resection. We hence carefully dissected both nerve ends from the tumor without shortening their lengths, and repaired them by end-to-end anastomosis, using fibrin glue without any graft materials. The tumor was removed completely and the patient's preoperative facial sensory impairment disappeared after the surgery. The patient's facial sensory impairment disappeared completely, but she had transient diplopia after the surgery. However, the newly developed diplopia resolved completely, and she had no neurological deficits or tumor recurrence during the follow-up period of 1-year.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/g-B-w_zDudg.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document