A simple combined approach using anterior transpetrosal and retrosigmoid approach: A case report.

Background

A combined transpetrosal approach (CTP) is often used for large lesions in the posterior cranial fossa (PCF). Although CTP provides a wide surgical corridor, it has complex and time-consuming bony work of mastoidectomy and cosmetic issues. Here, we describe a simple combined surgical technique to approach the supratentorial region, anterolateral surface of the brainstem, petroclival region, and foramen magnum by drilling only the petrous apex with a combination of retrosigmoid approach (RA).

Clinical presentation

A 27-year-old female was referred with extra-axial left cerebellopontine angle space-occupying epidermoid cyst extending to the prepontine cistern, anterior to the basilar artery, superior to the chiasma, and caudally to the foramen magnum. A one-stage surgical procedure using the anterior transpetrosal approach (ATP) and RA was performed after one-piece temporal-suboccipital craniotomy. These two approaches complemented each other well. Near-total removal was achieved.

Conclusion

A one-stage surgical procedure using ATP and RA provides the wider viewing and better visualization of the PCF with minimal technical difficulty.

Informations de copyright

© 2023 Tamura, Ueda, Karatsu, Sayanagi, Takahara, Hino, Iwama, Nogawa, Nakaya, Horiguchi and Toda.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.