Surgical Treatment of the Trigeminal Neurinomas: Observations and Results of 16 Consecutive Cases

ABSTRACT

A consecutive series of 16 patients with trigeminal neurinoma have been managed surgically at seoul National University Hospital duriny the last nine years. Five patients had tumors confined to the middle fossa arising from the trigeminal ganglion, four had posterior fossa tumors arising from the trigeminal root, and seven had "dumbbell" lesions extending above and below the tentorium. In four patients, tumor had also invaded cavernous sinus. A two stage operation was done in two cases with "dumbbell"-shaped tumors. A total tumor excision was achieved in ten patients ; all remain free of recurrence 4 to 77 months after surgery. A subtotal tumor excision was performed in six cases. There were no operative deaths nor major morbidity. Trigeminal nerve dysfunction persisted or was aggravated in ten cases. Six patients had preserved or improved the trigeminal function after treatment. Selection of the appropriate surgical approaches to the various types of tumor location and growth pattern was important for successful operations.