The medial opticocarotid recess: an anatomic study of an endoscopic "key landmark" for the ventral cranial base.

Background: The medial opticocarotid recess (MOCR) has become an important landmark for endoscopic approaches to the cranial base.

Objective: To examine the anatomy of the MOCR and outline its role as a "key landmark" for approaches to the sellar and suprasellar regions.

Methods: Ten silicone-injected cadaveric specimens and 96 dry crania were examined.

Endoscopic endonasal transclival approach to the jugular tubercle.

Background: The jugular tubercle is a rounded bony prominence that arises from the inferolateral margin of the clivus. In a previous publication, we described the surgical anatomy of the expanded endonasal approach to the jugular tubercle.

Objective: To illustrate the translation of laboratory work to the operating room describing the anatomic and technical nuances of the endonasal approach to the jugular tubercle.

Avoiding injury to the abducens nerve during expanded endonasal endoscopic surgery: anatomic and clinical case studies.

Background: Understanding the course of the most medially located parasellar cranial nerve, the abducens, becomes critical when performing an expanded endonasal approach.

Objective: We report an anatomoclinical study of the abducens nerve and describe relevant surgical nuances to avoid its injury.

Methods: Ten anatomic specimens were dissected using endoscopes attached to an high-definition camera.

"Far-medial" expanded endonasal approach to the inferior third of the clivus: the transcondylar and transjugular tubercle approaches.

Objective: The endoscopic endonasal transclival approach is a valid alternative for treatment of lesions in the clivus. The major limitation of this approach is a significant lateral extension of the tumor. We aim to identify a safe corridor through the occipital condyle to provide more lateral exposure of the foramen magnum.

Middle turbinate flap for skull base reconstruction: cadaveric feasibility study.

Objectives/hypothesis: Surgical resection of intradural pathology through an endonasal corridor creates defects that communicate the subarachnoid space with the sinonasal tract. Reconstruction of these defects with vascularized tissue is superior to any other method. The purpose of this study is to describe a novel vascularized pedicled flap from the middle turbinate (MT) mucosa and to assess its feasibility using a cadaveric model.

Sphenoid septations and their relationship with internal carotid arteries: anatomical and radiological study.

Objectives/hypothesis: We sought to investigate the anatomical relation of the intrasphenoid septations to the internal carotid artery (ICA).

Methods: Twenty-seven preoperative high-resolution computed tomography angiographic (CTA) scans with 1 mm of separation acquisition were examined. In addition, an endoscopic endonasal approach and high-resolution computed tomography were done on 27 fresh-frozen cadaveric heads.