title: Infratentorial supracerebellar resection of a pineal tumor using a high definition video exoscope (VITOM®).
abstract: A telescope based high definition (HD) video system (VITOM®, Karl Storz GmBH & Co., Tuttlingen, Germany) has recently been proposed as an alternative to the operating microscope for microneurosurgery. It remains unclear which clinical situations will benefit from its advantages. In light of the uncomfortable surgeon position and fatigue often associated with pineal region surgery, we used the VITOM® HD exoscope system to perform an infratentorial supracerebellar resection of a pineal tumor. The VITOM® dramatically improved surgeon comfort and ease of operating by permitting the surgeon to stand upright and in a comfortable position and avoid the need to extend the arm or assume an awkward. position commonly encountered when using the microscope for these approaches. The marked improvement in surgeon comfort afforded by the VITOM® exoscope indicates that this system may have significant advantages over traditional microscope based surgery for tumors of the pineal region approached using an infratentorial supracerebellar approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 8003, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. adam.mamelak@cshs.org
authors.forename: Adam N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Mamelak
authors.forename: Doniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drazin
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirzadi
authors.forename: Keith L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berci
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000601:surgery; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042282:Microdissection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult