Right Pretemporal-Transsylvian Approach for Resection of a Midbrain Cavernous Malformation: 3-Dimensional Operative Video

Posterolateral route for a midbrain cavernous malformation reaching the anterior surface of the brainstem

Cavernous malformations in the midbrain can be accessed via several safe entry zones. The accepted rule of thumb is to enter at the point where the lesion is visible at the surface of the brainstem to pass through as little normal brain tissue as possible. However, in some cases, in order to avoid critical neural structures, this rule may not apply. A different safe entry zone can be chosen. Our video presents a case of a ruptured cavernous malformation in the midbrain reaching its anterior surface which was successfully resected via a posterolateral route using the supracerebellar infratentorial approach. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/7kt-OQuBmz0.

Resection of an anterolateral mesencephalic cavernoma via transsylvian/transuncal approach in a child

This video demonstrates the resection of an anterolateral mesencephalic cavernous malformation (CM) through a transsylvian/transuncal approach. A 10-year-old girl presented with progressive headache and left-sided spastic hemiparesis. Neuroimaging revealed a 20-mm CM located in the right anterolateral midbrain/cerebral peduncle. After orbitozygomatic craniotomy and wide sylvian fissure opening, the oculomotor nerve was dissected and separated from the temporal lobe. Partial resection of the uncus allowed access to the CM through the oculomotor-tentorial triangle. The CM was excised in a piecemeal fashion. Postoperative imaging confirmed the gross-total resection. The patient had no additional neurological deficits postoperatively. Her left hemiparesis almost completely resolved at the 12-month follow-up.

The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/Jb_EaWbn5LU.