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Meningiomas of the Cerebellopontine Angle: Classification and Differences in the Surgical Removal of Each Type Through the Lateral Suboccipital Retrosigmoid Approach

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Microsurgical Anatomy and Surgery of the Posterior Cranial Fossa

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Abstract

Limited operative field and complicated neurovascular structures, including cranial nerves (CNs) and superior petrosal veins (Sup. Pet. Vs.), impede the total removal of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) meningiomas. However, the degree of difficulty of their removal depends on mainly tumor size and location. When a meningioma is located ventral to CNs VII and VIII or the lower CNs, the nerves obstruct in approaching the meningioma. Even when a meningioma is located dorsal to these nerves, e.g., when a tumor is located anterior to the porus acusticus internus (PAI), the risks of surgical treatment increase because of the deep operative field required and consequent proximity to Sup. Pet. V. Furthermore, in cases of meningioma originating from the dura mater near the PAI or the jugular foramen, the tumor involves the CNs, making the surgical removal extremely difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a detailed preoperative evaluation of tumor location and size when selecting a surgical approach for CPA meningioma [2, 3].

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  1. Department of Neurosurgery Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Toshio Matsushima

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  1. Toshio Matsushima
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Matsushima, T. (2015). Meningiomas of the Cerebellopontine Angle: Classification and Differences in the Surgical Removal of Each Type Through the Lateral Suboccipital Retrosigmoid Approach. In: Microsurgical Anatomy and Surgery of the Posterior Cranial Fossa. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54183-7_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54183-7_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-54182-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-54183-7

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