The major problem in performing skull base surgery has always been the complex anatomy and the crowding of major neurovascular structures in a deep and relatively inaccessible location. Standard anatomy textbooks fail to address this issue. Therefore, an actual demonstration of the anatomy seen during the different surgical approaches is presented in this book. This is followed by step-by-step descriptions of the surgical technique for each approach and clinical cases that represent the most commonly encountered lesions so that the surgeon receives a comprehensive understanding of how to perform the approach and what to expect during surgery. "Pearls and pitfalls" at the end of most chapters are practical tips gathered from the vast number of cases managed throughout the years and are included to help others avoid mistakes.

Table of Contents

1.Operating Room Setup
2.Special Considerations in Skull Base Surgery
3.Radiology of the Lateral Skull Base
4.Introduction to Lateral Skull Base Surgery
4.1.Classification of Lateral Skull Base Approaches
4.2.Surgical Anatomy
5.The Translabyrinthine Approaches
5.1.The Enlarged Translabyrinthine Approach
5.2.The Enlarged Translabyrinthine Approach with Transapical Extension
5.3.Brain Stem Implantation
6.The Transcochlear Approaches
6.1.The Transotic Approach
6.2.The Modified Transchochlear Approache, Types A-D
7.The Middle Fossa Approaches
8.Approaches to the Jugular Foramen
8.1.Type A Infratemporal Fossa Approach
8.2.Type B Petro-occipital Transsigmoid Approach
9Approaches to the Infratemporal Fossa
9.1.Type B Infratemporal Fossa Approach
9.2.Type C Infratemporal Fossa Approach
9.3.The Group of Preauricular Transzygometic Approaches
9.3.1.Type D Infratemporal Fossa Approach
9.3.2.Preauricular Infratemporal Transzygometic Approach
9.3.3.Preauricular Frontotemporal Orbitozygometic Approach
10.The Retrosigmoid Retrolabyrinthine Approach
11.The Extreme Lateral Approach
12.Combined Approaches
13.Decision-making in Skull Base Surgery
14.General Principles of Embolization in Skull Base Tumors
15.Management of the Internal Carotid Artery in Skull Base Surgery