[Modification of the retrolabyrinthine approach with hearing preservation in CPA tumors].
BACKGROUND
In an anatomical study including a CT scan of the cadaver sections by means of a virtual model analysis the option of a modified retrolabyrinthine passage to the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) preserving the Saccus endolymphaticus and the upper petrosus sinus was analysed.


METHODS
Due to the individual anatomical variations of the petrosus bone the results showed several limitations with regard to the retrolabyrintine passage to the CPA. The smallest distance between the dura of the posterior fossa and the posterior semicircular canal measured in a high resolution CT was of particular importance as to how much room was available for the surgical manipulation in the retrolabyrinthine space. As the back side angle to the petrosus bone is much flatter in a translabyrinthine approach than in a retrosigmoidal approach the internal auditory canal needed to be controlled by using a 30 degree endoscope.


RESULTS
In five patients the translabyrinthine approach was modified by temporarily preserving the labyrinth in an effort to remove the CPA tumors. Based on our clinical experience and on the findings of the anatomical and radiological studies we eventually removed the CPA tumors type B2 or C3 in three patients preserving hearing by using a modified retrolabyrinthine approach.
Schipper
J
J
Hals, Nasen, Ohrenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Germany. eschenbruch@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Lohnstein
P
P
Stummer
W
W
Knapp
F
F
Turowski
B
B
Klenzner
T
T
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed