Microsurgical treatment of cerebellopontine angle meningiomas and preservation of facial nerve and auditory nerve function

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical classification,microsurgical technique and intraoperative preservation of facial and auditory nerve function for cerebellopontine meningiomas.Methods 106 patients with cerebellopontine meningiomas treated with microneuro surgery were analyzed retrospectively.All Tumors resection was performed through the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach.Results Complete resection was achieved in 89 patients(84.0％ ),15 subtotal removal and 2 partial removal.One patient died after the operation.Facial nerves were anatomically preserved completely in 101 patients (95.3％).Auditory nerves were anatomically preserved completely in 75 patients(70.8％ ).The rate of the facial nerve function preservation( House-Brackmann Ⅰ,Ⅱ ) was 68.9％ (73 patients).The rate of the auditory nerve function preservation was 72.3％ (47/65).Conclusions It is important to classify the cerebellopontine meningiomas into different clinical classifications and to choose the appropriate surgical approaches and surgical techniques,which can help to preserve the function of facial and auditoy nerve. Key words: Cerebellopontine angle; Meningiomas; Facial nerve; Auditory nerve; Suboccipital retrosigmoid approach; Microsurgery