Usefulness of Neuronavigation System for Skull Base Tumor Surgery

• Published in: Japanese Journal of National Medical Services Vol. 60; no. 7; pp. 453 - 458
• Main Authors: TAKEMOTO, Yasunori, FUJITSU, Kazuhiko, ICHIKAWA, Teruo, TAKEDA, Yukihiro, MIYAHARA, Kousuke, MATSUNAGA, Shigeo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of National Medical Services 20.07.2006
• Subjects: neuronavigation; skull base surgery; skull base tumor
• ISSN: 0021-1699; 1884-8729
• DOI: 10.11261/iryo1946.60.453

Between January 2001 and December 2005, neurosurgical navigation system (Stealth Station TREON, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Minneapolis, MN) was used for twenty-four skull base tumors including 11 meningiomas, 4 schwannomas, 4 pituitary adenomas, 2 plasmacytomas, 2 cholesterol granulomas and one epidermoid cyst. The locations of the tumors were as follows; 8 suprasellar/parasellar, 6 uberculum sellae/clinoid, 5 petroclival, 2 foramen magnum, 3 with extracranial extension. The accuracy of the navigation was satisfactory in all cases. This system provided us useful information during surgical procedures such as vascular detachment of large skull base meningioma in an early operative stage, securing encased cerebral arteries, delineating extracranial extensive tumors, and resection of recurrent tumors. In conclusion, the neuronavigation system is an indispensable tool for skull base surgery to facilitate us safely and aggressively resecting the tumor.