Turkish Neurosurgery 2016 , Vol 26 , Num 3
Microsurgical Resection of Petroclival Tumors via the Subtemporal Transtentorial Approach
Zhou XU1, Xingruo ZENG2, Daofeng TIAN1, Qianxue CHEN1
1Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Department of Neurosurgery, Wuhan, China
2The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan, China
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.10897-14.1 AIM: To study and summarize our experience with the subtemporal transtentorial approach for resection of petroclival tumors.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Twenty-eight patients who suffered from petroclival tumors and underwent tumor resection via a subtemporal transtentorial approach between October 2010 and July 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS: Total resection was performed in 22 cases, at a rate of 78.57%, subtotal resection in 5 cases, and large portion resection in 1 case. 13 patients who suffered from varying degrees of postoperative nerve dysfunction all improved or recovered, during the 6 to 24 month post-operative follow up. ConclusIon: The subtemporal transtentorial approach is one of the best approaches for resection of petroclival tumors, especially for a tumor at the petrosal apex and upper-middle clival region, and has the advantages of less trauma, easy procedure of craniotomy, and also a good surgical exposure. Keywords : Microsurgery, Subtemporal transtentorial approach, Petroclival tumor

Corresponding author : Qianxue Chen, chenqx666@sohu.com