Endoscopic endonasal approaches to anterior skull base defects in pediatric patients.

Introduction: We studied 12 pediatric patients with congenital or acquired anterior skull base defects. All subjects underwent surgery owing to progressive symptoms. The endoscopic endonasal approach is a new method in the treatment of this pathology in children.

Endoscopic approach for the treatment of relapses in cystic craniopharyngiomas.

Introduction: Craniopharyngiomas are tumours of the central nervous system of dysontogenetic origin. They are most commonly localized in the sellar region and appear to originate from an embryogenetic defect of the Rathke cleft. It is universally accepted that radical surgery should be performed as first surgery because surgery after relapses usually causes more difficulty due to tighter adhesion to surrounding structures.

True 3D reconstruction for planning of surgery on malformed skulls.

Objectives: Since the difficulty associated with surgical planning of craniosynostosis is mostly due to the inadequate possibilities for simulation of surgery, a new technique for constructing a precise reproduction of a patient's malformed skull has been developed.

Materials And Methods: CT scans of ten malformed skulls on a scale of 1:1 and with 1-mm slices have been used to reconstruct the skulls in a special resin using a special lathe used in the automobile construction industry for formula one engines. This lathe works in the opposite way to other lathes: by apposition of material instead of subtraction.