title: Surgical treatment of trigeminal neurinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the best surgical approach for the removal of trigeminal neurinomas (TNs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 75' patients with TNs in Huashan Hospital was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the early group (1978-1984), a series of conventional intradural approaches were used; in the late group (1985-1995), an epidural approach via the skull-base craniotomy was used. Total tumor removal was achieved in 58% (20/35) of patients in the early group and 80% (32/40) in the late group (P < 0.025). Temporary and permanent cranial nerve morbidity were 62.7% and 37% in the early group and 28.1% and 10% in the late group (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The best microsurgical approach for the removal of trigeminal neurinomas except those confined to the posterior fossa is epidural approach or epidurotransduro-transtentorial approach via the skull-base craniotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200040, China. lfzhouc@online.sh.cn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*