Endoscopic transsphenoidal anterior petrosal approach for locally aggressive tumors involving the internal auditory canal, jugular fossa, and cavernous sinus.

CONCLUSIONS The ETAP approach can offer a simple, less invasive option for invasive skull base tumors involving petrous regions, including the internal auditory canal, jugular fossa, and cavernous sinus. The ETAP approach can reach more extensive areas in the extradural regions around the petrous bone. The authors' results indicate that the transsphenoidal retrocarotid route is sufficient to approach the petrosal areas in select cases. Further expansion of the surgical field is not always necessary. However, experience with intradural lesions remains limited, and the extent of tumor resection largely depends on tumor characteristics. Application of the ETAP approach should thus be carefully determined in each patient, taking into consideration the size of the retrocarotid window and tumor characteristics.
PMID: 27035173 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Journal of Neurosurgery - March 31, 2016 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Shin M, Kondo K, Hanakita S, Hasegawa H, Yoshino M, Teranishi Y, Kin T, Saito N Tags: J Neurosurg Source Type: research