Microsurgical Resection of Anaplastic Ependymoma of the Cerebellopontine Angle in an Adult: 3-Dimensional Operative Video.

Abstract

Infratentorial ependymomas usually arise in the fourth ventricle and extend into the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) through the foramina of Luschka is well described. A primary CPA location of an ependymoma is distinctly uncommon. In this 3-dimensional video, we present a 38-yr-old woman with a 1-mo history of vertigo and slow left sided gaze drift. She underwent microsurgical gross total resection of the CPA ependymoma via retrosigmoid approach. The histopathology was grade III anaplastic ependymoma. She tolerated the surgery well and her postoperative course was uneventful. She received radiation therapy and there was no recurrent disease in follow-up studies. Important steps of the surgical approach and microsurgical techniques in resection of these challenging tumors are demonstrated in this 3-dimensional surgical video. The patient consented to publication of her image.