Comparative Analysis Between Lateral Orbital Rim Preservation and Osteotomy for Transorbital Endoscopic Approaches to the Cavernous Sinus: An Anatomic Study.

Background: Transorbital endoscopic approach (TOEA) to the cavernous sinus (CS) is a novel surgical technique. However, the necessity of lateral orbital rim (LOR) osteotomy is questionable.

Objective: To illustrate the surgical dissection of TOEAs to CS and to investigate the additional benefit of LOR osteotomy.

Giant Olfactory Groove Meningioma-2-Staged Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

A 42-yr-old female presented with an olfactory groove meningioma causing progressive vision loss and anosmia. Given the size of the tumor, we opted for a 2-stage surgery: endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) followed by a craniotomy. Stage I surgery was a transcribriform transplanum EEA using a binostril 4-hand/2 surgeons (ENT and neuro) technique, with the patient positioned supine with the head slightly turned to the right side and tilted to the left, fixed in a 3-pin head clamp, under imaging guidance, in which we drilled out all the affected skull base bone, devascularized and debulked the tumor.

Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of a Suprasellar Pituitary Adenoma Mimicking Tuberculum Sellae Meningioma in a Patient with an Intrasellar Persistent Trigeminal Artery.

A 50-year-old female with an incidentally diagnosed suprasellar lesion was initially managed conservatively due to the presence of an intrasellar persistent trigeminal artery going through the dorsum sellae and fundamentally forming the blood supply of the entire posterior circulation. Serial follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed progressive enlargement of the suprasellar lesion over 4 years period. Surgery was indicated after the initial tumor growth; however, the patient refused surgery for fear of complications related to the persistent trigeminal artery.

Endoscopic Endonasal Transtuberculum Sellae Approach for the Resection of Suprasellar Intrainfundibular Epidermoid Cyst.

A 49-year-old female presented with intense headaches of 3 months duration. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and showed a sellar-suprasellar lesion extending into the third ventricle. A presumptive diagnosis of a craniopharyngioma was made.

Endoscopic Endonasal Transplanum-Transtuberculum Sellae Approach for the Resection of a Diaphragma Sellae Meningioma.

The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) provides a direct access to diaphragma sellae meningiomas. We present a case of a 56-year-old-female with an incidentally diagnosed sellar/suprasellar lesion with no hormonal deficit; thus, she opted for conservative management initially. During her annual follow-up appointment with her ophthalmologist, it was noticed that the patient had right eye peripheral deficit on formal visual field testing.

Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Tuberculum Sellae Meningioma with Utilization of Indocyanine Green.

We present the case of a 67-year-old female with an incidental finding of a left-sided tuberculum sellae meningioma on a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for an unrelated complaint. Formal visual field testing showed a small defect in the inferior nasal and temporal fields of the left eye, compatible with mass effect on the optic nerve by the tumor. An endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum approach with decompression of the left optic nerve was performed using a standard binostril four-hand technique, with the patient positioned supine with the head turned to the right side and tilted to the left, fixed in a three-pin head clamp, under imaging guidance.

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to a Suprasellar Craniopharyngioma.

We present the case of a 57-year-old male who presented with progressive right side vision loss whose workup revealed a large suprasellar lesion with invasion of the third ventricle. The pituitary stalk was not visible. Hormonal panel showed no hormonal deficits.

The limits of the endoscopic endonasal transclival approach for posterior fossa tumors.

Endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEA) have gained popularity and acceptance in skull base surgery over the last two decades. So-called expanded EEA allow access in the sagittal plane from the frontal sinus to the odontoid process. The endoscopic endonasal transclival approach allows a unique trajectory into the midline clivus and skull base that is unachievable from traditional craniotomy approaches to lesions such as chondrosarcomas, chordomas, and posterior fossa meningiomas.

Management of Skull Base Tumors in the Obstetric Population: A Case Series.

Background: Neoplasms rarely present during pregnancy; however, increases in plasma volume, hormone release-induced growth, and tumor hypervascularity can cause rapidly progressive symptoms of varying severity, ranging from those not requiring intervention to those necessitating emergent operations. Here we describe an algorithm for the management of symptomatic neoplasms in the obstetric population and provide recommendations for surgical indications and timing.

Methods: Patients who presented to the skull base clinic at a large tertiary care hospital between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed to identify those who presented with a skull base tumor during pregnancy.

Salvage skull base reconstruction in the endoscopic era: Vastus lateralis free tissue transfer.

Background: When locoregional flaps fail to reconstruct the skull base, the microvascular surgeon faces several reconstructive challenges. We present our technique and results of salvage anterior skull base reconstruction utilizing the vastus lateralis free tissue transfer (VLFTT).

Methods: Four patients with anterior skull base defects after previous locoregional flap failure underwent free tissue transfer reconstruction with VLFTT.

Limits of endoscopic endonasal surgery for III ventricle craniopharyngiomas.

Craniopharyngiomas represent one of the most challenging brain tumors for the neurosurgeon. For most of the 20th century, these parasellar lesions have been approached via the classic open approaches of neurosurgery such as pterional, frontobasal, interhemispheric, and transpetrosal craniotomies. The endoscopic endonasal approach to these tumors, rather than craniotomy, has risen in popularity over the last two decades.

Limits of endoscopic endonasal transpterygoid approach to cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave.

The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) to the ventral skull base has greatly increased in popularity over the last two decades. So-called expanded EEA have opened corridors to pathology off-midline, including lesions within the cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave. A standard EEA exposure into the sphenoid sinus allows visualization of the medial cavernous sinus; a transpterygoid approach allows for surgical manipulation of the lateral cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave contents.

Potential Effect of Leukocyte-Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Bone Healing of Skull Base: A Pilot Study.

Background: Reconstruction of surgical defects following cranial base surgery is challenging. Others have demonstrated that leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) stimulates tissue healing and bone regeneration. However, these studies have addressed mostly maxillofacial surgical wounds.

The McConnell's Capsular Arteries and Their Relevance in Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Sellar Region.

Background: The McConnell's capsular arteries (MCCA) were first described in 1953. They consist of medial branches of the cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) and are divided in anterior and inferior capsular arteries.

Objective: To highlight the anatomy of the MCCA and its importance in the surgical treatment of tuberculum sellae and planum sphenoidale tumors through an endoscopic endonasal approach.

Endoscopic endonasal pituitary gland hemi-transposition for resection of a dorsum sellae meningioma.

A 69-year-old female with incidental diagnosis of a dorsum sellae meningioma had shown significant tumor growth after initial conservative management. The procedure started with a microscopic sublabial transsphenoidal approach to the sella and the suprasellar space. Due to limitations to a safe dissection and removal of the retrosellar component, the surgery was converted to a purely endoscopic endonasal approach with left hemi-transposition of the pituitary gland, followed by drilling of the dorsum sellae and removal of the left posterior clinoid process.

A Side Door to Meckel's Cave: Anatomic Feasibility Study for the Lateral Transorbital Approach.

Background: In the last decade, endoscopic skull base surgery has significantly developed and generated a plethora of techniques and approaches for access to the cranial ventral floor. However, the exploration for the least-aggressive, maximally efficient approach continues.

Objective: To describe in detail an anatomical study, along with the technical nuances of a novel endoscopic approach to Meckel's Cave (MC) using a lateral transorbital (LTO) route.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Rhinorrhea after Systemic Erlotinib Chemotherapy for Metastatic Lung Cancer: A Familiar Problem from an Unfamiliar Culprit.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea after medical therapy for pituitary prolactinoma is a rare but well-described phenomenon. To our knowledge, no CSF leaks have been reported after targeted medical treatment of pituitary or anterior skull base metastases. We report this unusual case to raise awareness of spontaneous CSF leaks in the setting of skull base metastatic disease.

Indocyanine Green Fluorescence to Evaluate Nasoseptal Flap Viability in Endoscopic Endonasal Cranial Base Surgery.

 The pedicled nasoseptal flap (NSF) has dramatically reduced postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage following endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) surgery. Although rare, its arterial supply may be damaged during harvest or may be preoperatively damaged for numerous reasons. Early recognition permits harvesting a contralateral flap before sacrificing its pedicle as part of the surgical exposure or use of an alternative flap.

Surgical Anatomy for the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Ventrolateral Skull Base.

The authors describe the surgical anatomy for the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) to the ventrolateral skull base. The ventrolateral skull base can be divided into two segments: the upper lateral and lower lateral skull base. The upper lateral skull base includes the cavernous sinus and the orbit, while the lower lateral skull base includes the petrous apex, Meckel's cave, parapharyngeal space, infratemporal fossa, etc.

Newly Diagnosed Sellar Tumors in Patients with Cancer: A Diagnostic Challenge and Management Dilemma.

Background: The use of combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography for staging in patients with cancer and the widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging has led to increased detection of incidental sellar masses. The imaging findings can be suggestive of a benign pituitary tumor, but metastasis can never be completely ruled out with noninvasive work-up. Appropriate diagnosis of sellar masses is critical, as the treatment paradigm might change in the presence of a pituitary metastasis.