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Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms
Published on: August 11, 2015
Suprapterional keyhole approach for anteromedial skull base lesions: How I do it
Toshiaki Inomo1, Kenichiro Iwami2, Tadashi Watanabe1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan.
Background:
For a minimally invasive treatment approach to the anteromedial part of the anterior cranial fossa (ACF), a small incision and craniotomy of the posterolateral part of the ACF are preferable.
Method:
We described the concept and technique of suprapterional keyhole approach (SPKA), which uses an exoscope and endoscope to treat ACF lesions.
Conclusion:
The SPKA enables ACF observation from the lateral direction; the endoscope's extended viewing angles enable the observation of the anteromedial part of the ACF, including the bilateral olfactory groove. Facial skin and large scalp incisions are avoided, making this approach efficient for ACF lesions.
