Complications are not uncommon in the complex field of skull base surgery. The intrinsic relationship of lesions in this region to important neurovascular structures, dura mater, and bone may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The evolution of endoscopic endonasal surgery has had a significant impact on this field as a less invasive option for treatment of selected lesions, but major morbidity may still occur; moreover, endoscopic approaches have been associated with higher rates of some specific complications, such as cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Based on a presented case report, the authors discuss the management of various complications associated with different approaches for resection of skull base malignancies, including epidural and intradural pneumocephalus, subdural hematoma, and subdural empyema. Important lessons learned by the senior author throughout more than 30 years of his skull base surgery practice are highlighted. The inherent risk of complications in skull base surgery emphasizes the importance of their avoidance, prevention, and learning from one's unfavorable experience so as not to repeat them.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12887-6_2 | DOI Listing |
Cancers (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
Skull base tumors such as meningiomas and schwannomas are often pathologically benign. However, surgery for these tumors poses significant challenges because of their proximity to critical structures such as the brainstem, cerebral arteries, veins, and cranial nerves. These structures are compressed or encased by the tumor as they grow, increasing the risk of unintended injury to these structures, which can potentially lead to severe neurological deficits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancers (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Neurological Surgery, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Radiation has been used to treat meningiomas since the mid-1970s. Traditionally, radiation was reserved for patients unfit for major surgery or those with surgically inaccessible tumors. With an increased quantity and quality of imaging, and an aging population, there has been a rise in incidentally diagnosed meningiomas with smaller tumors at diagnosis time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagnostics (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, 11 527 Athens, Greece.
: The caroticoclinoid bar (CCB) or caroticoclinoid foramen (CCF) represents a well-described ossified variant of the skull base. It corresponds to an osseous bridge (resulting after homonymous ligament ossification) between the anterior and middle clinoid processes (ACPs and MCPs) surrounding the internal carotid artery (ICA)'s cavernous segment. Although extensive research has been performed on this clinically significant entity, only a few studies have been conducted on its effect on the ICA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurosurg
January 2025
Departments of1Neurological Surgery.
Objective: Tumor consistency, or fibrosity, affects the ability to optimally resect meningiomas, especially with recent trends evolving toward minimally invasive approaches. The authors' team previously validated a practical 5-point scale for intraoperative grading of meningioma consistency. The impact of meningioma consistency on surgical management and outcomes, however, has yet to be explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurosurg Rev
January 2025
Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and radiotherapy (SRT) have gained prominence as both adjuvant and primary treatment options for patients with skull base tumors that are either inoperable or present as residual or recurrent lesions post-surgery. The object of the current study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted SRS and SRT across various skull base pathologies. The study was conducted under PRISMA guidelines and involved a comprehensive evaluation of databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web-of-Science, and the Cochrane Library.
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