title: A modified "far-lateral" approach for safe resection of retroodontoid dural cysts.
abstract: Cystic mass lesions at the ventral craniocervical junction have been described only rarely in the past, however, they have received more attention with improved imaging modalities in recent years. These lesions have been approached by various operative procedures. A modified "far-lateral" approach combined with a C1 hemilaminectomy without fusion was used to safely remove the cyst and decompress the cervical medulla in a 72-year-old woman with cervicooccipital pain and paresthesia in both arms. Following surgery, complete resolution of symptoms was achieved, and no recurrence at 1 year follow-up was detected. A modified "far-lateral" approach offers several advantages when compared with other operation techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University, Medical School Hannover (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Götz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lütjens
authors.forename: Christian B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Bärlocher
authors.forename: Joachim K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Krauss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome