title: Removal of jugular foramen tumors: the fallopian bridge technique.
abstract: Despite recent advances in neuroradiographic and electrophysiologic assessment, the surgical extirpation of lesions of the bony skull base remains challenging. Moreover, as surgeons have gained experience in removing tumors from the irregular osteologic confines of the skull base, attention has been directed toward preservation of vital neural and vascular structures traversing the operative field. This report describes the creation of a fallopian bridge with preservation of the facial nerve in removing tumors that arise within or juxtaposed to the jugular fossa. Thirty-five patients are reported herein with analysis of pathology, surgical approach, and outcome. An algorithm for use of the fallopian bridge, as opposed to facial nerve mobilization and rerouting, is presented with particular emphasis on limitation of this selective procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45267-0528, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pensak
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jackler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002817:Chordoma / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005925:Glomus Jugulare Tumor / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008579:Meningioma / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000601:surgery; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery*; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*