Minimally invasive neurosurgery : MIN
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Minim Invasive Neurosurg · Feb 2010
Case ReportsStaged use of the transsphenoidal approach to resect superior third ventricular craniopharyngiomas.
Craniopharyngiomas are benign tumors, usually originating from the infundibulum or tuber cinereum. Their surgical treatment is challenging because of their relationship to neural and vascular structures. Large craniopharyngiomas that invade the upper third of the third ventricle are a common reason for patients to need a second operation to accomplish a gross total resection. Transsphenoidal approaches are being increasingly used in the treatment of craniopharyngiomas. Large craniopharyngiomas involving the superior third ventricle are most commonly resected through a staged approach, often involving a transcortical or interhemispheric route. ⋯ The authors find this to be an excellent indication for an endoscopic extended transsphenoidal approach in selected cases.
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Minim Invasive Neurosurg · Feb 2010
The true distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm: clinical characteristics and strategy for treatment.
A series of aneurysms located at the 4 (th) or 5 (th) segment of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) has not been previously reported in the literature. We report six such cases and analyze their clinical characteristics and outcomes from three different treatment strategies. ⋯ Surgery for the true distal PICA aneurysm results in good clinical outcomes. Clipping or wrapping should be considered as the first choice for treatment, and sacrificing the parent artery of the distal PICA aneurysm is relatively safer than selective coiling. The type of parent artery and particularly the collateralization of its distal part should be considered as an essential factor to take into consideration when choosing a treatment strategy.
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Minim Invasive Neurosurg · Oct 2009
Risk factors for regrowth of intracranial meningiomas after gamma knife radiosurgery: importance of the histopathological grade and MIB-1 index.
The influence of histopathological grade and MIB-1 index of intracranial meningioma on the results of its radiosurgical management is not clear. The objective of the present retrospective study was to make an evaluation of these factors along with an analysis of other variables associated with progression-free survival after gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR). ⋯ Radiosurgery is a highly effective management option for benign intracranial meningiomas, but growth control of non-benign ones is significantly worse. It requires close neuroradiological follow-up and necessitates the search for modified treatment strategies.
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Minim Invasive Neurosurg · Oct 2009
Case ReportsThe combined supraorbital keyhole-endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to sellar, perisellar and frontal skull base tumors: surgical technique.
Extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches (extended EETA) are increasingly being explored for lesions around the sella and the frontal skull base. These approaches, however, require significant surgical expertise and training that can only be obtained in high-volume centers and therefore these approaches are not generalizable to the whole neurosurgical community. Also, these approaches require significant skull base destruction and reconstruction, which comes with a high risk of CSF fistulas. The aim of this article is to describe a combined supraorbital keyhole-endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach as an alternative surgical strategy to the extended EETA that is easier to perform and that leaves the skull base anatomy more intact. ⋯ The combined supraorbital keyhole-EETA approach can be used without extra surgical training or expertise and with preservation of skull base anatomy for sellar, perisellar and frontal skull base tumors.
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Minim Invasive Neurosurg · Oct 2009
Endoscopic tracking of a ventricular catheter for entry into the lateral ventricle: technical note.
Tapping the ventricle with a cannula prior to introducing the endoscope is the preferred technique by many neurosurgeons in gaining ventricular access during endoscopic procedures. We have adapted this technique by passing a soft ventricular catheter into the ventricle (instead of a cannula), subsequently following this catheter into the lateral ventricle with the endoscope. Access to the lateral ventricle is planned according to trajectories selected from preoperative imaging and anatomic landmarks with or without the use of stereotactic navigation. The endoscope is introduced along the catheter tract with constant and direct visualization of the shaft of the catheter. ⋯ This technique was used with and without stereotactic navigation and deemed useful in both circumstances as cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) egress through the catheter verifies positioning before the introduction of a larger diameter endoscope. Moreover, once CSF is obtained, the catheter is not removed from this position so no additional error is incurred when the endoscope or rigid plastic sheath is placed. Finally, the catheter serves as a continuous marker to the ventricle allowing repeated endoscopic entries. This technique was found to be particularly useful in biportal procedures to mark specific trajectories that could be easily re-accessed in situations where intraoperative shift occurs.