A Sufficient Surgical Window for Deep-Seated Extracranial Schwannomas in the Craniocervical Junction by the Anterolateral Approach
Care should be taken regarding surrounding anatomic structures during access to deep-seated extracranial schwannomas in the craniocervical junction (CCJ). Herein, we present surgical tips for extracranial schwannomas in the CCJ using the anterolateral approach. A retrospective review was performed o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Korean Spinal Neurosurgery Society
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Neurospine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.e-neurospine.org/upload/pdf/ns-1938270-135.pdf |
| Summary: | Care should be taken regarding surrounding anatomic structures during access to deep-seated extracranial schwannomas in the craniocervical junction (CCJ). Herein, we present surgical tips for extracranial schwannomas in the CCJ using the anterolateral approach. A retrospective review was performed of 3 cases of surgical treatment of extracranial schwannomas in the CCJ by the anterolateral approach, which is a presternomastoid retrojugular route to the CCJ. The combination of neck rotation and reflection of the sternocleidomastoid muscle presented a sufficient, shallow surgical field for the CCJ. We could identify tumors along the accessory nerves and internal jugular veins, and had sufficient rostrocaudal working space to resect the tumors. Two cases were enucleated total resection and 1 was subtotal resection. Two patients experienced transient postoperative vocal cord partial paralysis and 1 had transient dysphagia. These neurological complications improved within 1 month. The anterolateral approach can provide a shallow and sufficient rostral and caudal surgical window. |
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| ISSN: | 2586-6583 2586-6591 |