[Endoscopic surgery of the cerebellopontine angle]

Twenty-four patients with various cerebellopontine angle (CPA) disorders including hemifacial spasm (11 cases), trigeminal neuralgia (9 cases), glossopharyngeal neuralgia (2 cases) incapacitating vertigo and acoustic neuroma (one case each), were treated by endoscopic surgery, via the retrosigmoid approach. Because of the distal light and panoramic view, the endoscope provides an excellent view inside the CPA, allows clear identification of the vascular and nervous components, and is especially helpful in cases of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm to find the location of cross-conflict. Under the monitor of endoscope, the surgeon is able to perform facial nerve decompression and splitting, selective trigeminal nerve root and glossopharyngeal nerve section with ease and safty. The present study shows that the endoscopic surgery is a simple and useful procedure which helps to reduce surgical complications. We recommend the application of endoscopy in the management of CPA disorders.