title: Anatomic structural study of cerebellopontine angle via endoscope.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive surgery in skull base relying on searching for possible anatomic basis for endoscopic technology is controversial. The objective of this study was to observe the spatial relationships between main blood vessels and nerves in the cerebellopontine angle area and provide anatomic basis for lateral and posterior skull base minimally invasive surgery via endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on thirty dried adult skulls to measure the spatial relationships among the surface bony marks of posterior cranial fossa, and to locate the most appropriate drilling area for retrosigmoid keyhole approach. In addition, we used 10 formaldehyde-fixed adult cadaver specimens for simulating endoscopic retrosigmoid approach to determine the visible scope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The midpoint between the mastoid tip and the asterion was the best drilling point for retrosigmoid approach. A hole centered on this point with the 2.0 cm in diameter was suitable for exposing the related structures in the cerebellopontine angle. Retrosigmoid keyhole approach can decrease the pressure on the cerebellum and expose the related structures effectively which include facial nerve, vestibulocochlear nerve, trigeminal nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve, accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve, anterior inferior cerebellar artery, posterior inferior cerebellar artery and labyrinthine artery, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exact location on endoscope retrosigmoid approach can avoid dragging cerebellum during the minimally invasive surgery. The application of retrosigmoid keyhole approach will extend the application of endoscopic technology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Capital Medical University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xi-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: De-min
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Hai-shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Jin-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D019723:Endoscopes; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures