Combined pre- and retrovascular extraoral approach for tumors at lateral mass of the atlas.

Study Design: a series of 9 patients surgically treated with a novel combined pre-and retrovascular extraoral approach to lateral mass of the atlas (LMA) is examined.

Objective: to describe the efficacy of combined pre- and retrovascular extraoral approach in achieving a wide exposure and aggressive resection of tumors at the LMA.

Summary Of Background Data: the anatomic complexity and closeness to vital neurovascular structures raise technical difficulties in the surgical access to the LMA.