Anatomical study of the pterygopalatine fossa using an endoscopic endonasal approach: spatial relations and distances between surgical landmarks

2007 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Solari ◽  
Francesco Magro ◽  
Paolo Cappabianca ◽  
Luigi M. Cavallo ◽  
Amir Samii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skull Base ◽  
Anatomical Study ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Pterygopalatine Fossa ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Anatomical Landmarks ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Invasive Approach

Object The pterygopalatine fossa is an area that lies deep within the skull base. The recent extensive use of the endoscopic endonasal approach has provided neurosurgeons with a method to reach various areas of the skull base through a less invasive approach than traditional transcranial or transfacial approaches. This study aims to provide neurosurgeons with new data concerning direct endoscopic measurements and precise anatomical topography features of the pterygopalatine fossa. Methods An anatomical dissection of six fixed cadaver heads (12 pterygopalatine fossae) was performed to analyze spatial relationships and distances between the most important neurovascular structures in this region, and to estimate the size of the endoscopic surgical field for operations in this area. The endoscopic endonasal approach offers direct access to the pterygopalatine fossa through its anteromedial walls. Conclusions Using an endoscopic endonasal approach makes it possible to identify all of the anatomical landmarks of the pterygopalatine fossa and almost all of the contiguous skull base areas.

Extended endoscopic endonasal approach to the pterygopalatine fossa: anatomical study and clinical considerations

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi M. Cavallo ◽  
Andrea Messina ◽  
Paul Gardner ◽  
Felice Esposito ◽  
Amin B. Kassam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skull Base ◽  
Anatomical Study ◽  
Pterygopalatine Fossa ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Anatomical Dissection ◽  
Clinical Considerations ◽  
Functional Surgery ◽  
Safe Approach

Object The pterygopalatine fossa is an area located deep in the skull base. The microsurgical transmaxillary–transantral route is usually chosen to remove lesions in this region. The increasing use of the endoscope in sinonasal functional surgery has more recently led to the advent of the endoscope for the treatment of tumors located in the pterygopalatine fossa as well. Methods An anatomical dissection of three fresh cadaveric heads (six pterygopalatine fossas) and three dried skull base specimens was performed to evaluate the feasibility of the approach and to illustrate the surgical landmarks that are useful for operations in this complex region. The endoscopic endonasal approach allows a wide exposure of the pterygopalatine fossa. Furthermore, with the same access (that is, through the nostril) it is possible to expose regions contiguous with the pterygopalatine fossa, either to visualize more surgical landmarks or to accomplish a better lesion removal. Conclusions In this anatomical study the endoscopic endonasal approach to the pterygopalatine fossa has been found to be a safe approach for the removal of lesions in this region. The approach could be proposed as an alternative to the standard microsurgical transmaxillary–transantral route.

The Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Lateral Recess of the Sphenoid Sinus Via the Pterygopalatine Fossa: Comparison Of Endoscopic and Radiological Landmarks

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (suppl_4) ◽  
pp. ONS-237-ONS-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Magro ◽  
Domenico Solari ◽  
Luigi M. Cavallo ◽  
Amir Samii ◽  
Paolo Cappabianca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Sphenoid Sinus ◽  
Pterygopalatine Fossa ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Anatomic Landmarks ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Invasive Approach ◽  
Lateral Recess ◽  
Radiological Images

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The endoscopic endonasal approach offers the opportunity to reach the ptery-gopalatine fossa, the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus, and other areas of the cranial base through a minimally invasive approach. This study compares the anatomy of these areas when observed through an endoscopic endonasal view with the anatomy of the same regions as they appear in computed tomographic scans. The aim was to identify and correlate the corresponding anatomic structures, providing the surgeons with anatomic landmarks to guide them when operating in these areas through an endoscopic endonasal approach. METHODS: An anatomic dissection of six fixed cadaver heads was performed by an endoscopic endonasal approach. A step-by-step comparison of endoscopic and radiological images was made to identify the landmarks of the surgical field. RESULTS: The step-by-step comparison of endoscopic and radiological images acquired during the endoscopic endonasal approach to the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus via the pterygopalatine fossa allowed the identification of all the relevant anatomic landmarks of the procedure. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic endonasal approach via the pterygopalatine fossa offers direct, minimally invasive access to the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus, which can be monitored in each phase through consistent radiological imagery.

Placement of cesium-131 permanent brachytherapy seeds using the endoscopic endonasal approach for recurrent anaplastic skull base meningioma: case report and technical note

2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 921-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asif Raza Shafiq ◽  
A. Gabriella Wernicke ◽  
Charles Alex Riley ◽  
Peter F. Morgenstern ◽  
Lucy Nedialkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skull Base ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
External Beam Radiation ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Beam Radiation ◽  
Invasive Approach ◽  
Skull Base Meningioma

There are few therapeutic options available for the treatment of recurrent meningiomas that have failed treatment with surgery and external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT). As additional EBRT is clinically risky, brachytherapy offers an important alternative for optimizing local control. In skull base meningiomas, the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has demonstrated an excellent extent of resection. However, in the case of recurrent, atypical, or residual meningiomas, the EEA alone may not be adequate to address microscopic, residual, highly proliferative disease. In this situation, local radioactive seed brachytherapy has been shown to improve control, but few reports of this technique exist. A 48-year-old right-handed man presented on multiple occasions with recurrence of an anaplastic skull base meningioma, after multiple prior gross-total resections and multiple rounds of radiotherapy had failed. The authors performed a maximally safe neurosurgical tumor resection via EEA supplemented by the intraoperative implantation of 131Cs low-dose permanent brachytherapy seeds. They describe a technique for permanent implantation of brachytherapy seeds and provide operative video of this technique. The authors submit that utilizing this technique in combination with EEA tumor resection renders a minimally invasive approach to improving local control in a patient with a recurrent anaplastic or atypical meningioma of the skull base.

scholarly journals Endoscopic endonasal resection of a large tuberculum sella meningioma

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. V3
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohyeldin ◽  
Jayakar V. Nayak ◽  
Juan C. Fernandez-Miranda
Keyword(s):  
Skull Base ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Csf Leak ◽  
Anterior Communicating Artery ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Tuberculum Sella ◽  
Ventral Skull Base

Over the past three decades, endoscopic endonasal surgery has unlocked new corridors to treat a wide spectrum of ventral skull base lesions. Tuberculum sella meningiomas represent one of the most ideal pathologies for ventral skull base access. Traditionally, these lesions were approached primarily through various subfrontal and frontal-lateral transcranial approaches that have unfortunately been shown to be associated with worsening visual decline postoperatively. The endoscopic endonasal approach is now being attempted by more surgeons and leverages an infrachiasmatic trajectory that provides direct access to the tuberculum sella where most of the vascular supply for these lesions can be taken early, facilitating more efficient surgical resection and mitigating the risk of optic nerve injury. Here we review a challenging case of a large (∼3 cm) tuberculum sella meningioma, encasing critical vessels off the circle of Willis and resected via an endoscopic endonasal approach. We discuss the technical nuances and relevant surgical anatomy of this approach and highlight important considerations in the safe and successful removal of these meningiomas. We show that certain tumors that appear to encase the supraclinoidal carotid artery can be fully resected via an endonasal approach with precise surgical technique and adequate exposure. Furthermore, this case illustrates the risk of injuring a key perforating vessel from the anterior communicating artery complex, called the subcallosal artery. Injury to this vessel is highly associated with tumors like the one presented here that extend into the suprachiasmatic space between the optic chiasm and the anterior communicating complex. Meticulous surgical dissection is required to preserve this perforating vessel as well as branches from the superior hypophyseal artery. Finally, we review our current closure techniques for these challenging approaches and discuss the use of a lumbar drain for 3 days to lower CSF leak rates.The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/mafyXi5B0MA.

Could Endoscopic Endonasal Approach Contribute to Improve Skull Base Chondrosarcoma Prognosis?

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Laure Bernat ◽  
Damien Bresson ◽  
Marc Polivka ◽  
Homa Adle-Biassette ◽  
Patricia De Cremoux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skull Base ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Clival Chordomas: 12 Years of Experience from a Large Skull Base Referral Center

2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Zenonos ◽  
Kenan Alkhalili ◽  
Maria Koutourousiou ◽  
Nathan Zwagerman ◽  
David Panczykowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skull Base ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Referral Center

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Pterygopalatine Fossa: Anatomic Study

Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Alfieri ◽  
Hae-Dong Jho ◽  
Raffaele Schettino ◽  
Manfred Tschabitscher
Keyword(s):  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Infratemporal Fossa ◽  
Lateral View ◽  
Pterygopalatine Fossa ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach ◽  
Endonasal Approach ◽  
Anatomic Study ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Arteries And Veins ◽  
Anatomic Region

Abstract OBJECTIVE The pterygopalatine fossa is a relatively small anatomic region. Because of its rich vasculonervous contents and its connections with several intracranial and extracranial compartments, it is of particular surgical interest. Because of its deep localization and despite its small size, however, it can require extensive anatomic approaches, especially for invasive cranial base lesions. We performed a cadaveric study through a minimally invasive endoscopic endonasal approach to the pterygopalatine fossa. METHODS We studied 16 pterygopalatine fossae in eight adult cadaveric heads in which the arteries and veins were injected with latex. For visualization, we used rod-lens endoscopes, 4 mm in diameter and 18 cm in length, with 0-, 30-, 45-, and 70-degree lenses. An endonasal middle meatal transpalatine approach, an endonasal middle meatal transantral approach, and an endonasal inferior turbinectomy transantral approach were used. RESULTS The middle meatal transpalatine approach allows for medial exposure of the pterygopalatine fossa contents, the middle meatal transantral approach allows a lateral view, and the inferior turbinectomy transantral approach allows the widest view and room for surgical maneuvering in the medial and lateral compartments of the pterygopalatine fossa and the infratemporal fossa. CONCLUSION Our anatomic study shows that this approach can be considered a valid minimally invasive option to approach pterygopalatine fossa lesions.

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