Anatomic Comparison of the Endonasal and Transpetrosal Approaches for Interpeduncular Fossa Access

Abstract

Object: The interpeduncular cistern (IPC), including the retrochiasmatic area, is one of the most challenging regions to approach surgically. Various conventional approaches to the IPC have been described; however, only the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) transdorsum sellae and the transpetrosal approach (TPA) provide ideal exposure with a caudal-cranial view. Therefore we compared the EEA and transpetrosal approach to clarify the their limitations and intrinsic advantages of these approaches to the IPC.