Microsurgical resection of large meningiomas in median region of anterior skull base

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of microsurgical treatment of large meningiomas in median region of anterior skull base.Methods 17 patients were given microsurgical resection through two different operative approaches,including 10 cases through the coronal incision unilateral interhemispheric approach and 7 coronal incision transcranial subfrontal bilateral approach.Results According to Simpson grades of meningioma resection,total resection ( Simpson grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ) was achieved in 14 cases,and subtotal resection in 3.Conclusions Total resection of large meningiomas in the median region of anterior skull base could be achieved through the both approaches.The operative injury of unilateral interhemispheric approach is much more slight because only the unilateral frontal lobe is pulled and the contralateral olfactory nerve could be reserved intact.So the unilateral interhemispheric approach might be more suitable for median region of anterior skull base than the bilateral trans -subfrontal approach. Key words: Large meningiomas; Anterior skull base; Microsurgery; Operative approach