Introduction: Sphenopetroclival meningiomas are a surgical challenge because of deep inaccessible location, complex relationship with cranial nerves (CN), vessels and brainstem, and variations in surgical indications, choice of approach, evaluation of results and treatment of recurrence.
Methods: The present study involved retrospective analysis of 38 patients with sphenopetroclival meningiomas operated by modified anterior transpetrosal rhomboid Dolenc-Kawase (MDK) approach as described by the senior author between 2003 and 2016. Patients’ medical records, imaging studies and pathology reports were reviewed to analyze clinical presentation, neurological outcome, complications and resection rates.
Results: Females comprised 68.4 % of study population with median age at presentation being 40 years. Headache was the most common presentation (71.1%) followed by visual decline (34.2%) and facial asymmetry (31.6%). Most frequently involved cranial nerves were II CN (50%) and VII CN (50%). All patients were operated by MDK approach as described by the senior author. In 22 patients (57.9%) either gross total or near total resection was achieved. Eleven patients (28.9%) with tumor remnants were treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. The most common CN deficit following surgery was III CN (11 patients). Two (5.26%) patients developed CSF leak, one of them 5 years after surgery. Three patients developed hydrocephalus and all required placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Two patients died due massive blood loss and brainstem infiltrations.
Conclusions: Achieving maximal resection in sphenopetroclival meningiomas will always be a challenge for neurosurgeons. MDK approach gives wide and safe exposure than conventional trans-petrosal techniques. Subtotal resection is found to be associated with large tumor size, cavernous sinus invasion and ICA encasement. Small residual tumors can be dealt with radiosurgery.
Patient Care: Modified anterior transpetrosal rhomboid Dolenc-Kawase (MDK) approach gives adequate exposure for maximal resection of Sphenopetroclival meningiomas.
Small residual tumors can be dealt with radiosurgery.
Learning Objectives: Modified anterior transpetrosal rhomboid Dolenc-Kawase (MDK) approach gives wide and safe exposure with respect to conventional trans-petrosal techniqueS for Sphenopetroclival meningiomas.
Subtotal resection is found to be associated with large tumor size, cavernous sinus invasion and ICA encasement.
Small residual tumors can be dealt with radiosurgery.
References: 1. Tripathi M, Suri A, Patra DP, Meena R. Joining the Masters: the Dolenc-Kawase Approach: Letter to editor – response. J Neurosurg 2016
2.Tripathi M, Deo RC, Suri A, Srivastav V, Baby B, Kumar S, Kalra P, Banerjee S, Roy TS, Lalwani S. Quantitative Analysis of Kawase's Triangle versus Modified Dolenc Kawase Rhomboid Approach for Middle Cranial Fossa Lesions with Variable Antero-posterior Extension. J Neurosurg 2015 Jul;123(1):14-22.
3.Suri A, Tripathi M, Deo RC. Anterolateral transcavernous extradural petrosectomy approach: 3-dimensional operative video demonstration in cadavers. Neurosurgery. 2014 Dec;10 Suppl 4:656; discussion 656.