Respiratory epithelial cyst in the cerebellopontine angle

The authors report a case with a cerebellopontine angle cystic mass. Computed tomography scan failed to demonstrate the lesion. Vertebral angiogram revealed an extra-axial lesion in the cerebellopontine angle. After successful surgical removal, it was found to be a respiratory epithelial lining cyst. The literature and histogenesis of this lesion are reviewed.     

桥小脑角大型脑膜瘤的显微手术治疗

目的探讨桥小脑角大型及巨大型脑膜瘤手术入路及显微手术切除方法方法回顾分析经显微手术治疗的28例桥小脑角大型及巨大型脑膜瘤：其中19例采用枕下乙状窦后入路，3例采用颞枕开颅乙状窦前入路，4例采用颞枕开颅颞下小脑幕入路，2例采用颞枕开颅与幕上、下联合入路：结果肿瘤全切除(SimpsonⅠ、Ⅱ级)22例，全切除率为78．6％。全组无手术死亡。术后症状改善者20例，症状基本同术前5例。26例随访6个月至4年，生活自理者23例(88．5%)，复发2例(7．7％)。结论合理选择手术入路，术中应用显微技术妥善处理和保护血管、神经、脑干等，能较理想地切除肿瘤和提高患者生存质量。     

Lipoma in the cerebellopontine angle

A case of lipoma in the cerebellopontine angle is reported. Intracranial lipomas are very rare, especially in the cerebellopontine angle. To our knowledge, only four cases, including our own, have been operated upon. Until now, total extirpation has not been possible. The singular appearance on computed tomography scanning of this dysembryoplasia is presented together with a bibliography of this subject.     

Giant cranial base tumours

Summary Thirty-three patients with giant (diameter4.5 cm) cranial base tumours who underwent surgery at the Hadassah Hospital over the last ten years are described. Twenty-three of the patients had meningiomas, 4 neurinomas, one giant cell tumour, one haemangiopericytoma, and 4 had malignant meningiomas. Four tumours were at the cerebellopontine angle, 9 within the anterior cranial fossa, 8 petroclival, 8 on middle fossa floor, and 4 along the sphenoid ridge.The average pre-operative symptom duration was 31 months, range 3–180 months.Nineteen patients had a radical tumour resection, 10 subtotal, and 4 a partial resection on an average 1.7 operations per patient.The mean follow-up period from the first operation was 39 months (range 2–120). There was no mortality peri-operatively or during the follow-up period. The mean pre-operative Karnofsky score was 68 and at the last follow-up 76. There was no correlation between histology and degree of resection, complications, or status at last follow-up.The best resections (92% radical) and outcome (mean Karnofsky 92) with the least number of operations (mean 1.4) were in the anterior fossa and along the sphenoid wing. The patients requiring the most operations (mean 2.1), having the smallest percentage of radical resections (25%) and the least favourable outcomes (mean Karnofsky 52) were those with petroclival tumours.Patients with giant cranial base tumours have a good overall long-term prognosis, but especially those with petroclival tumours challenge us to improve our techniques.     

Non-acoustic tumors of the cerebellopontine angle

52 patients with non-acoustic neurinoma tumors of the cerebellopontine angle undergoing surgery over a 16 year period (1974–1989) are analyzed with regard to epidemiologic factors, presenting symptoms, neurological findings, diagnostic procedures, surgical approaches, recurrences, and longterm survival rates. Meningiomas (20 cases) and epidermoid tumors (16 cases) outnumber the rare tumors which exhibit wide histological variation. Trigeminal neuralgia was found as a significantly frequent sign of epidermoids. Total removal was possible in nine meningiomas (45%), fourteen epidermoid tumors (87.5%) and 11 (69%) mostly malignant rare tumors. There were many longterm survivors in meningioma and epidermoid groups with a median follow-up period of 4.1 years. The results are compared to those reported in the literature and a brief review of reported rare tumors of the angle is presented.     

桥小脑角区肿瘤的显微外科手术治疗及预后分析

目的 探讨桥小脑角区肿瘤的显微外科手术治疗方式、方法及预后分析.方法 回顾性分析65例桥小脑角区肿瘤显微外科手术方式、方法及预后.结果 本组肿瘤全切除58例,面神经解剖保留51例,随访1～3 a,面瘫恢复30例,部分恢复8例,无肿瘤复发.结论 娴熟的显微镜下手术技巧及熟熟练掌握相关解剖知识,在切除肿瘤的同时,能最大限度...     

Sudden asystole during surgery in the cerebellopontine angle

Summary We report a case of a 40-year-old lady undergoing surgery for a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle. Intraoperatively, patient had a sudden asystole without prior warning sign of bradycardia. It could have been the severe form of trigeminocardiac reflex. The cardiac rhythm returned spontaneously once the surgical manipulation stopped. The remainder of the operation was uneventful and no complication occurred afterwards. The possible mechanism of the event is discussed.     

Primary myxopapillary ependymoma of the cerebellopontine angle: report of a case

Myxopapillary ependymoma is a rare variant of ependymoma, almost exclusively occurring in the region of the cauda equina and filum terminale. We describe a myxopapillary ependymoma located in the left cerebellopontine angle of a young man suffering from peripheral vertigo and left sensorineural hearing loss for years. The patient underwent surgical removal of the tumour. Microscopic examination showed histological and immunohistochemical features consistent with a diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma. Imaging studies of the spine yielded normal findings, confirming the lesion’s primary nature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of primary intracranial myxopapillary ependymoma described in this location.     

Extra-axial cavernomas of the cerebellopontine angle involving the seventh-eighth nerve complex

Extra-axial cavernous malformations (cavernomas) of the central nervous system are rare. Although occasional cases located in different parts of the central nervous system have been reported, only five cases of extra-axial cavernous malformation in the cerebellopontine angle are to be found. We describe here two additional cases of cavernomas in the cerebellopontine angle causing hearing loss and tinnitus presenting as vestibular schwannoma. Electronic Publication     

岩静脉在桥脑小脑角肿瘤显微手术中的临床意义

目的探讨岩静脉在桥脑小脑角肿瘤显微手术中的临床意义。方法以2004年12月至2006年3月进行的桥脑小脑角肿瘤显微手术33例为观察对象，其中2例手术中岩静脉撕裂被电凝处理，31例保护良好。结果31例岩静脉保护好的手术后没有发生小脑出血性梗塞，2例电凝处理岩静脉的术后都发生小脑出血性梗塞并水肿，其中1例死亡，1例恢复良好。结论岩静脉在桥脑小脑角显微手术中应尽可能保护良好，若被处理则需在手术后做好再次后颅窝减压手术的准备。     

Cerebellopontine angle germinoma. A case report

A case of ectopic germinoma in the cerebellopontine angle with peripheral facial palsy and complete hearing loss on the left side is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically. The unusual location of the tumor is stressed, and current management recommendations are reviewed.     

Chondroma of the cerebellopontine angle. Case report Submitted December 1, 1995. Revised March 14,1996. Accepted October 24, 1996

A patient is reported who had a solitary chondroma of the cerebellopentine angle. The tumor was totally removed. The diagnostic value of CT scanning and MRI in this rare pathological condition are discussed.     

Unusual appearance of an acoustic neurinoma in CT scans

Summary A large cystic neurinoma of the cerebellopontine angle is reported. This case is unusual in that the clinical history, CT patterns and plain radiological findings were rather misleading for the differential preoperative diagnosis.     

Enterogenous cysts of the cerebellopontine angle: short review illustrated by two new patients

Summary Intracranial enterogenous cysts are an uncommon entity rarely found in the midline within the posterior cranial fossa. The occurrence of an enterogenous cyst in the cerebellopontine angle is exceptional. We present two new cases of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) enterogenous cysts and review the literature to clarify the diagnosis and the management of these lesions. Eighteen cases of CPA intradural enterogenous cysts have been reported to date, including the two cases presented in this article. All of them were symptomatic and underwent surgical treatment. After surgery, the symptomatic recurrence occurred in 31% of the patients, most of which had partial excision. Considering our patients and the published cases in the literature we suggest that the aim of surgery should be total removal of cyst and its content whenever possible. When partial resection of the cyst is performed, we recommend long-term clinical and neuroradiological follow-up. Correspondence: Paolo Perrini, MD, Neurosurgical Department, Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester, UK.     

三维个体化数字解剖技术在脑桥小脑角肿瘤显微手术中的应用

目的 总结桥小脑角肿瘤21例患者,借助三维个体化数字解剖技术行乙状窦后入路显微手术的临床经验,评价该技术在处理桥小脑角肿瘤的应用价值. 方法 2011年1月至2011年11月共收治桥小脑角肿瘤21例,术前行薄层CTA扫描,数据经3Dview软件重建局部结构,根据解剖标志物设计个体化骨窗范围,术中根据三维个体化解剖模型制作骨瓣及制定显微手术方案行乙状窦后入路显微手术. 结果 所有病例骨瓣均一次成型并复位,无入路相关并发症,术野暴露良好,复位的骨瓣在随访中愈合良好.术后随访3～12个月,均行CT及MRI检查,无1例出现脑脊液漏或皮下积液,无1例出现手术入路相关并发症.术后CT检查均显示骨瓣无移位,并且骨瓣生长良好,三维重建更直观显示颅骨固定及愈合情况. 结论 根据三维个体化解剖技术施行桥小脑角肿瘤的显微手术,能减少术后相关并发症发生.     

The role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the management of hydrocephalus associated with cerebellopontine angle tumours

Summary Background. Progressive hydrocephalus secondary to cerebellopontine angle tumours has been traditionally managed with ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy provides an alternative treatment option and the success rate in this patient group has not previously been reported. Methods. We report a retrospective series of 11 patients with cerebello-pontine angle tumours who presented with symptomatic hydrocephalus, or developed hydrocephalus following radiosurgery, who underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Results. Seven patients (63.6%) remain shunt free. There were no complications following endoscopy in any patient. Where the ventriculostomy failed there was no additional morbidity. Conclusions. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a low morbidity procedure, which avoids the inherent problems of shunts, particularly infection and should be considered for patients with hydrocephalus and cerebello-pontine angle tumours.     

Adjunctive use of endoscopy during microvascular decompression in the cerebellopontine angle: 27 case reports

Microvascular decompression is an important procedure for the management of microvascular compression syndromes in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) like trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm. The ability to identify the offending vessel is the key to success. Can the endoscope help surgeons to identify and understand the responsible conflict in order to treat them? Our series concerns 27 consecutive patients who underwent microvascular decompression systematically using an endoscope with an angulation of 30° at the beginning and the end of the intervention. The decompression procedure was done under microscope. Endoscopic exploration was successful for all patients. Endoscopy improved visualization of the cranial nerves and allowed to see and understand the neurovascular conflicts, which were not able to be observed using the microscope alone for two of the 27 patients. The endoscope is a useful adjunct to microscopic exploration of the cranial nerves in the CPA avoiding significant cerebellar or brainstem retraction.