Objective: The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA), has become the preferred alternative to traditional open and transoral approaches to the ventral craniovertebral junction (CVJ) region. However, preoperative prediction of the limitations of caudal reach remains challenging. This cadaveric study aimed to quantify the CVJ area of exposure and access afforded by the EEA, evaluate the accuracy of previously described radiographic anthropometric lines, and identify the lowest limit of the EEA corridor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Importance: Superior oblique myokymia (SOM) is a rare, acquired aberration of the innervation of the superior oblique, resulting in episodic monocular contraction of the superior oblique muscle characterized by intermittent rotatory eye movement causing diplopia and oscillopsia. Several treatment modalities have been described to treat SOM, including medication and surgical interventions. There is a paucity of reports describing microvascular decompression (MVD) of the trochlear nerve near the root entry zone for the treatment of a neurovascular conflict.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Endocrinol (Lausanne)
December 2024
Introduction: Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are benign and rare tumors found in adults. Their location close to vital neurovascular structures makes traditional treatment modalities (surgery and radiation) challenging and potentially fraught with morbidity. The 2021 WHO classification has divided what was previously considered two subtypes of craniopharyngioma into separate entities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has evolved into an established technique in skull base surgery. The authors previously examined 1002 EEA procedures and reported factors associated with postoperative complications. Here they report the development and validation of a scoring model based on risk factors to better predict complications following EEA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Meningiomas are the most frequently diagnosed benign intracranial tumors. However, meningioma en plaque (MEP) is a rare subset accounting for 2.5% of all meningiomas and is characterized by flat, carpetlike proliferation along the dura, typically arising in the spheno-orbital region, and, therefore, causes proptosis, decreased visual acuity, and orbital pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Skull base defects can be challenging to reconstruct. The nasoseptal flap (NSF) remains the first-line option for reconstruction. However, it can be inadequate to cover wide defects or compromised by tumor invasion or prior surgery requiring additional reconstructive options.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
October 2024
Purpose: Advancements in endoscopic skull base surgery have enabled complex tumor resections, necessitating a variety of reliable reconstructive techniques to repair resultant defects. Vascularized flaps represent optimal options, but frequently used local pedicled intranasal flaps may be unavailable due to tumor invasion or prior surgery. This study applies a modification to the previously described salpingopharyngeus myomucosal flap (Dicle flap) with potential for its use in extensive endoscopic skull base surgery defect's repair.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this video, we demonstrate the technique of endoscopic transpterygoid trans lacerum trans cavernous approach for the excision of Knosp 4 functioning pituitary macroadenomas. We highlight the anatomy and key steps of the approach using cadaveric dissection and present two clinical cases. A 42-year-old female with a growth hormone-secreting tumor and Knosp 4 macroadenoma underwent an extended endoscopic endonasal approach and near-total excision of the tumor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurol Surg B Skull Base
October 2024
Peer review stands as a cornerstone of academic publishing, especially in the era of evidence-based neurosurgery - the scientific literature relies on proficient peer reviewers. Providing a constructive peer review is an art and learned skill that requires knowledge of study design and expertise in the neurosurgical subspeciality. Peer reviewers guard against arbitrary decision-making and are essential in ensuring that published manuscripts are of the highest quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) exhibit variable growth patterns, thus posing a challenge in predicting progression. While some RCCs may not cause symptoms, others can insidiously cause pituitary dysfunction, which is often irreversible, even following surgery. Hence, it is crucial to identify asymptomatic RCCs that grow rapidly and pose a higher risk of causing endocrinologic dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Skull base anatomy around the internal carotid artery (ICA) is extremely complex. Among anatomical landmarks studied, the vidian canal has been thoroughly evaluated, unlike the vidian nerve (VN). Our aim is to evaluate the VN-ICA relationships, and understand their role in terms of surgical planning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Intraoperative fluorescence guidance is a well-established surgical adjunct in high-grade glioma surgery. In contrast, the clinical use of such dyes and technology has been scarcely reported in skull base surgery.
Research Question: We aimed to systematically review the clinical applications of different fluorophores in both open and endonasal skull base surgery.
Background: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare neoplasm that arises from tissues of embryonic mesodermal origin. Primary tissues of origin can include smooth muscle cells of the abdominopelvic viscera, blood vessels, or arrector pili muscles. LMS is known to metastasize to the lungs, with few reported cases of spread to the central nervous system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study investigates the rare occurrence of tumor-to-tumor metastasis in Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors (PitNETs), also known as pituitary adenomas, aiming to enhance understanding of its diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report two cases from our institution of tumor-to-tumor metastasis involving PitNETs, followed by a systematic literature review.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review using PubMed and Google Scholar databases.
Despite clearly established guidelines, recent audits have found the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) within neurosurgery to be relatively lackluster in methodological rigor and compliance. Protocols of SRMAs allow for planning and documentation of review methods, guard against arbitrary decision-making during the review process, and enable readers to assess for the presence of selective reporting. To aid transparency, authors should provide sufficient detail in their protocol so that the readers could reproduce the study themselves.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurosurgeons are inundated with the Herculean task to keep abreast with the rapid pace at which clinical research is proliferating. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) have consequently surged in popularity because when executed properly, they constitute the highest level of evidence, and may save busy neurosurgeons many hours of combing the literature. Well-executed SRMAs may prove instructive for clinical practice, but poorly conducted reviews sow confusion and may potentially cause harm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSurgical selection for third ventricle tumors demands meticulous planning, given the complex anatomic milieu. Traditional open microsurgical approaches may be limited in their access to certain tumors, prompting the exploration of alternative techniques. The endoscopic supraorbital translaminar approach (ESOTLA) has emerged as a promising alternative for managing these tumors.
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