Suboccipital Craniotomy

Majority of the posterior fossa lesions

Chiari malformations and other developmental abnormalities

Brain tumors including meningiomas, ependymomas, astrocytomas, and medulloblastomas

Vascular lesions such as aneurysms, cavernous malformations, arteriovenous malformations, and hemangioblastomas ( Fig. 5.1 )

Posterior fossa infections

Lesions located in the rostral part of the tentorium: In these cases, consideration should be given to a combined supracerebellar and supratentorial approach.

Lesions extending to the middle fossa: In these cases, consideration should be given to a combined middle and posterior fossa approach.

Sitting position is contraindicated in patients with patent foramen ovale. (Preoperative echocardiogram is necessary to rule out the patent foramen ovale.)