Paramedian supracerebellar approach to the upper brain stem and peduncular lesions.
OBJECTIVE
The infratentorial paramedian supracerebellar approach is useful for lesions involving the upper brain stem or the cerebellar pedunculi. We provide a precise description of this approach and its indications.


METHODS
Four patients were operated on using this approach. The lesions included a squamous cell carcinoma, a glioblastoma multiforme, a hematoma, and a cavernoma. The lesions involved the quadrigeminal plate, the superior cerebellar peduncle, the middle cerebellar peduncle, and the quadrangular lobule of the cerebellum.


RESULTS
Postoperatively, there was no apparent aggravation of neurological symptoms. The main advantage of the approach was that the operation can be performed with a wide horizontal view without sacrificing the deep veins.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that lesions in the superior and inferior colliculus, superior and middle cerebellar peduncles, and quadrangular lobules of the cerebellum can be safely operated on with this approach.
Ogata
N
N
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zürich, Switzerland.
Yonekawa
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006406:Hematoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis