title: Lower clivus and foramen magnum anterolateral meningiomas: surgical strategy.
abstract: Lower clivus and anterolateral foramen magnum meningiomas are rare but challenging tumors. Indeed, all access routes to their intradural anterolateral implantation appear unsafe since highly-functional local structures may not be sacrified or even retracted. Anterior and posterior surgical approaches have specific advantages and limitations. Different lateral extensions of the posterior approach have been described. They include a transposition of the vertebral artery, a partial occipital condylectomy and even the exposure and the section of the sigmoid sinus. Such posterolateral approaches offer the optimal access to anterolateral foramen magnum meningiomas and allow a total removal with a minimal morbidity. We report the surgical strategy that we applied for the last 6 anterolateral foramen magnum meningiomas in our department.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pirotte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noterman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brotchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed