title: Robot-assisted resection of paraspinal Schwannoma.
abstract: Resection of retroperitoneal tumors is usually performed using the anterior retroperitoneal approach. Our report presents an innovative method utilizing a robotic surgical system. A 50-yr-old male patient visited our hospital due to a known paravertebral mass. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-encapsulated mass slightly abutting the abdominal aorta and left psoas muscle at the L4-L5 level. The tumor seemed to be originated from the prevertebral sympathetic plexus or lumbosacral trunk and contained traversing vessels around the tumor capsule. A full-time robotic transperitoneal tumor resection was performed. Three trocars were used for the robotic camera and working arms. The da Vinci Surgical System® provided delicate dissection in the small space and the tumor was completely removed without damage to the surrounding organs and great vessels. This case demonstrates the feasibility of robotic resection in retroperitoneal space. Robotic surgery offered less invasiveness in contrast to conventional open surgery.
authors.affiliation: Spine and Spinal Cord Research Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Sool
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Keung Nyun
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Do Heum
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pennant
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*