Intraorbital meningioma: resection through modified orbitozygomatic craniotomy

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Ophthalmology
• Skull Base Surgery

Background:

• Intraorbital meningiomas present significant surgical challenges due to their location and proximity to critical structures.
• Posteriorly located tumors necessitate skull base approaches for adequate exposure and safe resection.
• Traditional approaches may involve extensive bone removal and significant brain retraction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the technical nuances of resecting intraorbital meningiomas using a modified orbitozygomatic (OZ) craniotomy.
• To highlight the advantages of the modified OZ approach in providing surgical access and enabling optic nerve decompression.
• To demonstrate a minimally invasive yet effective technique for complex intraorbital tumor removal.

Main Methods:

• The study details the application of a one-piece modified orbitozygomatic (OZ) craniotomy.
• Emphasis is placed on minimizing frontal lobe retraction while maximizing surgical corridor.
• The technique facilitates tumor resection and optic nerve decompression in the posterior intraorbital space.

Main Results:

• The modified OZ approach provides ample surgical space and working angles for tumor resection.
• This technique allows for safe removal of intraorbital meningiomas, particularly those in the posterior orbit.
• Optic nerve decompression can be effectively achieved concurrently with tumor resection.

Conclusions:

• The modified orbitozygomatic (OZ) craniotomy is an effective approach for resecting challenging intraorbital meningiomas.
• This technique offers advantages over traditional methods by minimizing brain retraction and improving surgical access.
• The modified OZ approach facilitates safe tumor removal and optic nerve decompression in the posterior intraorbital compartment.