The extradural minipterional pretemporal approach for the treatment of spheno-petro-clival meningiomas.

BACKGROUND: Cavernous sinus and petroclival region is an anatomically complex region in close relationship with important neurovascular structures. As such, the surgical treatment of spheno-petro-clival (SPC) meningiomas represents an operative challenge, in which several routes and its combinations might be used. METHODS: We describe in detail the surgical technique of the extradural minipterional pretemporal approach (eMPT-P) to the SPC region and highlight the main anatomical key elements involved in this approach as well as the technical aspects for avoiding surgical complications. CONCLUSION: The eMPT-P is a versatile approach that uses the extradural route, and thereby reduces brain retraction, while provides a good angle of exposure of the SPC region.