title: The petrosal approach: indications, technique, and results.
abstract: Surgical access to the clivus and petrous apex remains a formidable challenge. Intradural tumours at the clivus and petroclival area are superbly exposed via the petrosal approach described here. To date, we have operated on 33 patients having benign tumours using this approach. Total removal was achieved in all patients except 3 with meningiomas. There was no mortality, morbidity included 1 patient with hemiparesis and several with cranial nerve deficits.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: al-Mefty
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayoubi
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis