Preoperative Considerations Meningiomas accounts for 77% of all non-cancerous intradural, extramedullary tumors of the craniocervical junction. The foramen magnum (FM) region is a complex surgical area. Tumors may develop intradurally or extradurally and may represent a surgical challenge. Several classification…
Preoperative Considerations Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) or acoustic neuromas arise from the Schwann cells forming the sheath (covering) of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Most of these tumors arise from the superior division of the vestibular nerve (located in the internal auditory canal),…
In this chapter we will introduce the anatomy and some key steps for the three most relevant approaches to the temporal bone for the neurosurgeon: the subtemporal or middle fossa approach, the translabyrinthine and the transcochlear approach. Middle Fossa or…
Indications Subfrontal approaches are mainly used to access the floor of the anterior cranial fossa, anterior midline parasellar structures, like the tuberculum sellae, anterior communicating artery, optic chiasm, posterior orbit and orbital apex. The unilateral subfrontal approach can be adequate…
Preoperative Considerations The far lateral provides wide access to the dorsolateral compartment yet allowing exposure to the lateral aspect of the ventromedial compartment of the posterior fossa (270° visualization of the circumference around the medulla). Variants of the far lateral…
Introduction Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive percutaneous procedure that involves the stereotactic insertion of a fiberoptic catheter and delivery of non-ionized photons into a predetermined intracranial location to thermally ablate specific anatomical structures or lesions. Laser…
Introduction Neuroendoscopy for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathology has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the past 30 years. It is an alternative to open transcortical approaches to access intraventricular and periventricular pathology. In cases of hydrocephalus, it can be an…
Hydrocephalus is a medical condition characterized by a pathologic dilatation of the ventricular system and the subarachnoid space due to an abnormal increment of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF volume). This condition can be secondary to a blockage in the regular…
Hydrocephalus, from the Greek word meaning “water in the head,” is a general term used to describe many conditions of fluid collected in the intracranial space. For the purposes of this chapter, we define hydrocephalus as an inappropriate amount of…