Cavernous Sinus Meningioma: Tumor Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia and Anterior Tibial Artery Graft High-Flow Bypass for Brain Ischemia: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

A 62-yr-old man with left cavernous sinus tumor presented with atypical trigeminal neuralgia refractory to medical treatment. He received Gamma Knife (Elekta) radiation for the tumor. However, the facial pain worsened after radiation. Neuropsychological testing done for memory problems had revealed mild neurocognitive disorder. Neurological examination showed trigeminal distribution numbness and partial abducens nerve paralysis. Imaging revealed an enhancing left cavernous sinus and supra-cavernous mass. Angiography revealed severe stenosis of the left cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA). Computed tomography (CT) perfusion study showed diminished blood flow on the left side, and ischemic changes were seen in fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgical resection of the tumor was preferred over ablative treatment for trigeminal neuralgia because of its effectiveness in improving cranial nerve (CN) function.1 The patient underwent staged surgeries. In the first stage, the tumor was partially excised with decompression of the trigeminal ganglion and nerve root in the lateral cavernous sinus wall, Meckel's cave. Postoperatively, MR angiography revealed worsening of the left ICA caliber. Therefore, a high-flow bypass from the external carotid artery to the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was performed with an anterior tibial artery graft. The patient recovered initially but developed enterococcus meningitis postoperatively, which was promptly identified and treated with antibiotics. At 1-yr follow-up, the graft was patent, and the patient had significant relief of his facial pain and cognitively improved. This 2-dimensional video demonstrates the technique of partial excision of cavernous sinus meningioma with CN decompression, and the technique of a high-flow bypass from the external carotid artery to M2 MCA segment using an anterior tibial artery graft. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. All relevant patient identifiers have been removed from the video and accompanying radiology slides.

Microsurgical Resection of Recurrent Cavernous Sinus Hemangioma by Superior and Lateral Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

This video shows the technical nuances of microsurgical resection of recurrent cavernous sinus (CS) hemangioma by superior and lateral approach. A 77-yr-old woman presented with headache and difficulty in vision in right eye for 6 mo. She had previously undergone attempted resection of a right CS tumor in another hospital with partial removal, and the tumor had grown significantly. Neurological examination revealed proptosis, cranial nerve 3 palsy, and loss of vision in right eye (20/200). Left side visual acuity was 20/20. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large CS mass with homogeneous enhancement, measuring 3.3 × 3.3 × 2.6 cm, extending into the suprasellar cistern with mass effect on the right optic nerve. It extended anteriorly to the region of the right orbital apex and abuted the basilar artery posteriorly. She underwent right frontotemporal craniotomy, posterolateral orbitotomy and anterior clinoidectomy as well as optic nerve decompression, and the CS tumor was removed by superior and lateral approach. An incision was made into the superior wall of the CS medial to the third nerve. On lateral aspect the tumor had extended outside the CS through the Parkinson's triangle. Posteriorly it extended through the clival dura. Anteriorly tumor encased the carotid artery and it was gradually dissected away. At the end of the operation, all of the cranial nerves were intact. Postoperative MRI showed near complete tumor resection with preservation of the internal carotid artery. At 6 mo follow-up her modified Rankin Scale was 1 and vision in left eye was normal. Informed consent was obtained from the patient prior to the surgery that included videotaping of the procedure and its distribution for educational purposes. All relevant patient identifiers have also been removed from the video and accompanying radiology slides.

Complete Microsurgical Resection of Large Retrochiasmatic Hypothalamic Craniopharyngioma by Transpetrosal Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

This two-dimensional video shows the technical nuances of complete microsurgical resection of a hypothalamic craniopharyngioma located in the retrochiasmatic region by the transpetrosal approach. This 49-yr-old man presented with progressive fatigue, excessive sleepiness, and difficulty in vision in both eyes. He was found to have right CN 3 paralysis and bitemporal hemianopsia on neurological examination. Further workup revealed panhypopituitarism. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large solid retrochiasmatic hypothalamic lesion with homogeneous contrast enhancement, measuring 2.1 × 2.6 × 2.4 cm. Optic chiasm was prefixed, and the tumor was just posterior to the pituitary stalk area. The preoperative differential diagnosis included hypothalamic astrocytoma, craniopharyngioma, germinoma, and histiocytosis. Because of the prefixed chiasm, a presigmoid, transpetrosal approach was performed. Our initial plan was a large biopsy, but based on frozen section histology, we decided to excise the tumor completely. The tumor had a pseudocapsule, which was firm and yellowish. It was debulked, dissected from the surrounding hypothalamus, and removed completely. The pituitary stalk was found at the anterior and inferior ends of the tumor and was preserved. Postoperatively, the patient developed diabetes insipidus and requires desmopressin replacement, which was gradually tapered. For panhypopituitarism, he is receiving thyroxine, hydrocortisone, and testosterone. Postoperatively, patient had an improvement in vision in his left eye and ptosis was improving in the right eye with mRs 1- at 10-wk follow-up. An informed consent was obtained from the patient prior to the surgery, which included videotaping of the procedure and its distribution for educational purposes. All relevant patient identifiers have also been removed from the video and accompanying radiology slides.

Bow Hunter's Syndrome: Complete Microsurgical Decompression of Vertebral Artery by Far Lateral Retrocondylar Approach: 3-Dimensional Operative Video.

This 50-yr-old man had a 15-yr history of presyncopal episodes that were precipitated by turning his head to the right, and had worsened recently. Cerebral angiogram demonstrated complete cessation of anterograde flow in left vertebral artery (VA) at the level of the C1 sulcus arteriosus while turning head to right, indicating dynamic compression at the C1 level. Patient underwent left extreme lateral retrocondylar approach, partial C1 laminectomy and opening of the C1 foramen with complete microsurgical decompression of the VA. After skin incision, meticulous muscle dissection was performed and superior and inferior oblique muscles were disconnected from the tubercle of C1. The VA was exposed, and three areas of constriction were visible, first at the atlanto-occipital membrane laterally; second, located more medially as the artery curved around the occipital condyle to enter the posterior fossa; and third, located anterior to C2 nerve root. The artery was dissected from all the surrounding tissues, preserving the C2 nerve root, and the Cl foramen was opened completely. The Cl lamina was also partially resected and grooved to allow free placement of the VA. The VA was also decompressed near the C2 foramen. Postoperative computed tomography angiogram of the head and neck showed complete decompression of VA. The patient had no episodes of presyncope or dizziness while turning head to right and his mRs was 0 at 8 mo follow up. This 3D video shows the technical nuances of decompression of V3 segment of VA in bow hunters's syndrome. Informed consent was obtained from the patient prior to the surgery that included videotaping of the procedure and its distribution for educational purposes. All relevant patient identifiers have also been removed from the video and accompanying radiology slides.