The Anteromedial Triangle: The Risk for Cranial Nerve Ischemia at the Cavernous Sinus Lateral Wall. Anatomic Cadaveric Study

Skull Base ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Conti ◽  
Daniel Prevedello ◽  
Andreas Schwarz ◽  
Roger Robert ◽  
Amin Kassam
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Cadaveric Study

Outcomes of decompressive surgery for cavernous sinus meningiomas: long-term follow-up in 50 patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yair M. Gozal ◽  
Gmaan Alzhrani ◽  
Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar ◽  
Mohammed A. Azab ◽  
Michael T. Walsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optic Nerve ◽  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Senior Author ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Subtotal Resection ◽  
Adjuvant Radiation ◽  
Neurological Morbidity

OBJECTIVECavernous sinus meningiomas are complex tumors that offer a perpetual challenge to skull base surgeons. The senior author has employed a management strategy for these lesions aimed at maximizing tumor control while minimizing neurological morbidity. This approach emphasizes combining “safe” tumor resection and direct decompression of the roof and lateral wall of the cavernous sinus as well as the optic nerve. Here, the authors review their experience with the application of this technique for the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas over the past 15 years.METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for patients with cavernous sinus meningiomas treated over a 15-year period (2002–2017) with this approach. Patient outcomes, including cranial nerve function, tumor control, and surgical complications were recorded.RESULTSThe authors identified 50 patients who underwent subtotal resection via frontotemporal craniotomy concurrently with decompression of the cavernous sinus and ipsilateral optic nerve. Of these, 25 (50%) underwent adjuvant radiation to the remaining tumor within the cavernous sinus. Patients most commonly presented with a cranial nerve (CN) palsy involving CN III–VI (70%), a visual deficit (62%), headaches (52%), or proptosis (44%). Thirty-five patients had cranial nerve deficits preoperatively. In 52% of these cases, the neuropathy improved postoperatively; it remained stable in 46%; and it worsened in only 2%. Similarly, 97% of preoperative visual deficits either improved or were stable postoperatively. Notably, 12 new cranial nerve deficits occurred postoperatively in 10 patients. Of these, half were transient and ultimately resolved. Finally, radiographic recurrence was noted in 5 patients (10%), with a median time to recurrence of 4.6 years.CONCLUSIONSThe treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas using surgical decompression with or without adjuvant radiation is an effective oncological strategy, achieving excellent tumor control rates with low risk of neurological morbidity.

scholarly journals Interdural cavernous sinus dermoid cyst in a child: case report

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavio Giordano ◽  
Giacomo Peri ◽  
Giacomo M. Bacci ◽  
Massimo Basile ◽  
Azzurra Guerra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Nerve Palsy ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Total Removal ◽  
Pediatric Case ◽  
Third Cranial Nerve Palsy ◽  
The Right

Interdural dermoid cysts (DCs) of the cavernous sinus (CS), located between the outer (dural) and inner layer (membranous) of the CS lateral wall, are rare lesions in children. The authors report on a 5-year-old boy with third cranial nerve palsy and exophthalmos who underwent gross-total removal of an interdural DC of the right CS via a frontotemporal approach. The patient had a good outcome and no recurrence at the 12-month follow-up. To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the second pediatric case of interdural DC described in the literature.

Tumors of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus

1992 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 508-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdy El-Kalliny ◽  
Harry van Loveren ◽  
Jeffrey T. Keller ◽  
John M. Tew
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nerve Preservation ◽  
Membranous Layer ◽  
Microsurgical Approach ◽  
Dural Wall ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The lateral dural wall of the cavernous sinus is composed of two layers, the outer dural layer (dura propria) and the inner membranous layer. Tumors arising from the contents of the lateral dural wall are located between these two layers and are classified as interdural. They are in essence extradural/extracavernous. The inner membranous layer separates these tumors from the venous channels of the cavernous sinus. Preoperative recognition of tumors in this location is critical for selecting an appropriate microsurgical approach. Characteristics displayed by magnetic resonance imaging show an oval-shaped, smooth-bordered mass with medial displacement but not encasement of the cavernous internal carotid artery. Tumors in this location can be resected safely without entering the cavernous sinus proper by using techniques that permit reflection of the dura propria of the lateral wall (methods of Hakuba or Dolenc). During the last 5 years, the authors have identified and treated five patients with interdural cavernous sinus tumors, which included two trigeminal neurinomas arising from the first division of the fifth cranial nerve, two epidermoid tumors, and one malignant melanoma presumed to be primary. The pathoanatomical features that make this group of tumors unique are discussed, as well as the clinical and radiological findings, and selection of the microsurgical approach. A more favorable prognosis for tumor resection and cranial nerve preservation is predicted for interdural tumors when compared with other cavernous sinus tumors.

The Medial Wall of the Cavernous Sinus: Microsurgical Anatomy

Neurosurgery ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Yasuda ◽  
Alvaro Campero ◽  
Carolina Martins ◽  
Albert L. Rhoton ◽  
Guilherme C. Ribas
Keyword(s):  
Pituitary Gland ◽  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Thin Sheet ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
The Body ◽  
Medial Wall ◽  
Microsurgical Anatomy ◽  
Pituitary Fossa ◽  
Adjacent Structures

Abstract OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to clarify the boundaries, relationships, and components of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus (CS). METHODS: Forty CSs, examined under ×3 to ×40 magnification, were dissected from lateral to medial in a stepwise fashion to expose the medial wall. Four CSs were dissected starting from the midline to lateral. RESULTS: The medial wall of the CS has two parts: sellar and sphenoidal. The sellar part is a thin sheet that separates the pituitary fossa from the venous spaces in the CS. This part, although thin, provided a barrier without perforations or defects in all cadaveric specimens studied. The sphenoidal part is formed by the dura lining the carotid sulcus on the body of the sphenoid bone. In all of the cadaveric specimens, the medial wall seemed to be formed by a single layer of dura that could not be separated easily into two layers as could the lateral wall. The intracavernous carotid was determined to be in direct contact with the pituitary gland, being separated from it by only the thin sellar part of the medial wall in 52.5% of cases. In 39 of 40 CSs, the venous plexus and spaces in the CS extended into the narrow space between the intracavernous carotid and the dura lining the carotid sulcus, which forms the sphenoidal part of the medial wall. The lateral surface of the pituitary gland was divided axially into superior, middle and inferior thirds. The intracavernous carotid coursed lateral to some part of all the superior, middle, and inferior thirds in 27.5% of the CSs, along the inferior and middle thirds in 32.5%, along only the inferior third in 35%, and below the level of the gland and sellar floor in 5%. In 18 of the 40 CSs, the pituitary gland displaced the sellar part of the medial wall laterally and rested against the intracavernous carotid, and in 6 there was a tongue-like lateral protrusion of the gland that extended around a portion of the wall of the intracavernous carotid. No defects were observed in the sellar part of the medial wall, even in the presence of these protrusions. CONCLUSION: The CS has an identifiable medial wall that separates the CS from the sella and capsule of the pituitary gland. The medial wall has two segments, sellar and sphenoidal, and is formed by just one layer of dura that cannot be separated into two layers as can the lateral wall of the CS. In this study, the relationships between the medial wall and adjacent structures demonstrated a marked variability.

Transcranial Microsurgical and Endoscopic Endonasal Cavernous Sinus (CS) Anatomy: A Cadaveric Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 73 (05) ◽  
pp. 296-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Forhad Chowdhury ◽  
Mohammod Haque ◽  
Khandkar Kawsar ◽  
Shamim Ara ◽  
Quazi Mohammod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Cadaveric Study ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal

Endoscopic Endonasal Approaches to the Cavernous Sinus: Surgical Approaches

Neurosurgery ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Alfieri ◽  
Hae-Dong Jho
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Middle Turbinate ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Surgical Instruments ◽  
Surgical Approaches ◽  
Lateral Nasal Wall ◽  
Orbital Apex ◽  
Superior Orbital Fissure ◽  
Endoscopic Endonasal ◽  
Surgical Access

Abstract OBJECTIVE After completion of an earlier endoscopic transsphenoidal anatomic study, we studied various endoscopic transsphenoidal approaches using cadaveric specimens to develop endoscopic endonasal surgical approaches to the cavernous sinus. METHODS Ten cavernous sinuses in five artery-injected adult cadaveric heads were studied with 0-, 30-, and 70-degree angled 4-mm rod-lens endoscopes. The extent of the surgical exposure, the skewed endoscopic anatomic view, and the maneuverability of surgical instruments through their relative operating spaces were studied after various endoscopic endonasal approaches via one nostril. RESULTS The paraseptal approach was used between the nasal septum and the middle turbinate and provided exposure at the anteromedial portion of the cavernous sinus. The contralateral paraseptal approach rendered a slightly more medial view at the cavernous sinus than did the ipsilateral approach. This approach offered limited surgical access to the lateral vertical compartment. The middle turbinectomy approach allowed surgical access to the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, except for the superior orbital fissure and the orbital apex. The middle meatal approach, which was made between the middle turbinate and the lateral nasal wall, revealed the entire lateral vertical compartment of the cavernous sinus, including the orbital apex and the superior orbital fissure. However, its lateral tangential surgical trajectory and the absence of dedicated surgical tools limited the surgeon's surgical maneuverability. A combination of the middle turbinectomy and middle meatal approaches increased the operating space. CONCLUSION Various endoscopic endonasal surgical approaches to the cavernous sinus were studied using adult cadaveric head specimens.

Endoscopic supraorbital extradural approach to the cavernous sinus: a cadaver study

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 1331-1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuminari Komatsu ◽  
Mika Komatsu ◽  
Tooru Inoue ◽  
Manfred Tschabitscher
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Middle Cranial Fossa ◽  
Cadaver Study ◽  
Minimal Invasiveness ◽  
Small Complex ◽  
Transcranial Approach ◽  
Cranial Fossa ◽  
Extradural Approach

Object The cavernous sinus is a small complex structure located at the central base of the skull. Recent extensive use of endoscopy has provided less invasive approaches to the cavernous sinus via endonasal routes, although transcranial routes play an important role in the approach to the cavernous sinus. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of the purely endoscopic transcranial approach to the cavernous sinus through the supraorbital keyhole and to better understand the distorted anatomy of the cavernous sinus via endoscopy. Methods Eight fresh cadavers were studied using 4-mm 0° and 30° endoscopes to develop a surgical approach and to identify surgical landmarks. Results The endoscopic supraorbital extradural approach was divided into 4 stages: entry into the extradural anterior cranial fossa, exposure of the middle cranial fossa and the periorbita, exposure of the superior cavernous sinus, and exposure of the lateral cavernous sinus. This approach provided superb views of the cavernous sinus structures, especially through the clinoidal (Dolenc) triangle. The lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, including the infratrochlear (Parkinson) triangle and anteromedial (Mullan) triangle, was also clearly demonstrated. Conclusions An endoscopic supraorbital extradural approach offers excellent exposure of the superior and lateral walls of the cavernous sinus with minimal invasiveness via the transcranial route. This approach could be an alternative to the conventional transcranial approach.

Delayed Cranial Nerve Palsy After Coiling of Carotid Cavernous Sinus Aneurysms

Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. E1215-E1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Xu ◽  
Michael C. Hurley ◽  
H. Hunt Batjer ◽  
Bernard R. Bendok
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Sinus ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Cranial Neuropathy ◽  
Aneurysm Neck ◽  
Post Procedure ◽  
Cranial Nerve Palsies ◽  
Endovascular Coils ◽  
Healthy Females

Abstract OBJECTIVE Detachable endovascular coils have become a common treatment strategy for carotid cavernous sinus aneurysms (CCAs), but previously unrecognized postprocedure complications may emerge as longer follow-up data are accumulated. In this report, the authors document the first known cases of delayed cranial neuropathy following CCA coiling in 3 patients, all of whom present at least a year postprocedure without aneurysm regrowth. The potential mechanisms underlying this syndrome are discussed as well as their implications on the selection and optimal endovascular management of CCA patients. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Three previously healthy females aged 50, 60, and 62 underwent CCA coiling at our institution and subsequently developed ipsilateral cranial nerve palsies at 56, 28, and 14 months, respectively, post-procedure. At presentation, all 3 patients had a new, recurrent area of flow in their CCA without changes in aneurysm size. INTERVENTION One patient declined further treatment. In the other 2 patients, a stent was placed across the aneurysm neck, and one patient underwent additional coiling. Unfortunately, all 3 patients remained symptomatic at their latest follow-up. Conclusion Because of the intimate anatomic environment of the cavernous sinus, neural elements within it may be particularly susceptible to persistent mass or dynamic effects exacerbated by remnant or recurrent flow across the neck of a coiled aneurysm. These 3 cases prompted the authors to advocate for more aggressive efforts to achieve and maintain CCA occlusion. Furthermore, when such efforts are unsuccessful, consideration of traditional carotid occlusion strategies with or without bypass is warranted.

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