Olivary body exposure through far lateral and lower retrosigmoid approaches. Comparative analysis of the exposed surface and angle of attack.

Objectives: Throughout neurosurgical history, the treatment of intrinsic lesions located in the brainstem has been subject of much controversy. The brainstem is the anatomical structure of the central nervous system (CNS) that presents the highest concentration of nuclei and fibers, and its simple manipulation can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Once one of the safe entry points at the medulla oblongata has been established, we wanted to evaluate the safest approach to the olivary body (the most used safe entry zone on the anterolateral surface of the medulla oblongata).

Microsurgical anatomy of the lateral posterior choroidal artery: implications for intraventricular surgery involving the choroid plexus.

Objective: The lateral posterior choroidal artery (LPChA) should be a major surgical consideration in the microsurgical management of lateral ventricular tumors. Here the authors aim to delineate the microsurgical anatomy of the LPChA by using anatomical microdissections. They describe the trajectory, segments, and variations of the LPChA and discuss the surgical implications when approaching the choroid plexus using different routes.

The Smith-Robinson Approach to the Subaxial Cervical Spine: A Stepwise Microsurgical Technique Using Volumetric Models From Anatomic Dissections.

Background: The Smith-Robinson1 approach (SRA) is the most widely used route to access the anterior cervical spine. Although several authors have described this approach, there is a lack of the stepwise anatomic description of this operative technique. With the advent of new technologies in neuroanatomy education, such as volumetric models (VMs), the understanding of the spatial relation of the different neurovascular structures can be simplified.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Surveillance for Vestibular Schwannoma After Microsurgical Resection Using a Retrosigmoid Transmeatal Approach.

Background: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign, usually slow-growing tumor. The drawback of radical microsurgical VS resection is the increased likelihood of neurologic injury, forcing surgeons to leave a tumor remnant in some cases. We evaluated the prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enhancement patterns to determine the risk of tumor regrowth.

Merkel cell carcinoma spinal metastases in an immunosuppressed patient: Clinical case.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare epidermal malignant tumor arised from neuroendocrine epidermal cells, called Merkel cells. Prognosis is poor when tumor spreads to distant locations. Among metastases sites, spinal is not frequent at all and its management remains controversial.

Side-to-End Hypoglossal-Facial Neurorrhaphy for Treatment of Complete and Irreversible Facial Paralysis after Vestibular Schwannoma Removal by Means of a Retrosigmoid Approach: A Clinical and Anatomic Study.

Background: Facial paralysis secondary to a complete and irreversible anatomic or functional lesion of the facial nerve (FN) causes severe functional and psychological disorders for the patient. A large number of surgical techniques have therefore been developed for FN repair. Our objective was to propose a surgical FN reanimation protocol for patients with irreversible anatomic or functional postsurgical injury of the FN in the cerebellopontine angle after vestibular schwannoma resection.

Microsurgical Anatomy of the Insular Region and Operculoinsular Association Fibers and its Neurosurgical Application.

Objective: To analyze the three-dimensional relationships of the operculoinsular compartments, using standard hemispheric and white matter fiber dissection and review the anatomy of association fibers related to the operculoinsular compartments of the Sylvian fissure and the main white matter tracts located deep into the insula. The secondary aim of this study was to improve the knowledge on this complex region to safely address tumor, vascular, and epilepsy lesions with an integrated perspective of the topographic and white matter fiber anatomy using 2D and 3D photographs.

Methods: Six cadaveric hemispheres were dissected.