title: Suprabrow minicraniotomy for suprasellar tumours.
abstract: We present our experience with suprabow minicraniotomy in the excision of 18 suprasellar tumours between May 2001 and September 2003. There were 14 females and four males with ages ranging from 7 to 59 years. The tumours included one epidermoid cyst, 10 meningiomas, five craniopharyngiomas and two optico-chiasmatico-hypothalamic (OCHG) gliomas. The size of the one-piece craniotomy was about 2.5 cm. Both OCHGs were biopsied; one craniopharyngioma was totally excised, the remaining craniopharyngiomas and epidermoid cyst were subtotally excised. Four meningiomas were radically excised and six were subtotally removed. The patient with a craniopharyngioma that had a radical excision died of hypothalamic dysfunction. One patient developed a postoperative meningitis and subsequent hydrocephalus requiring a shunt. The other patients did well and the cosmetic result was excellent in all cases. This basal approach through a small craniotomy provided good surgical access to suprasellar tumours with minimal brain retraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Chacko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome