title: The far lateral approach for intra-dural anteriorly situated tumours at the craniovertebral junction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of the far lateral approach, without drilling of the     occipital condyle, in the management of anterior intradural tumors at the     craniocervical junction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients suffering from     foramen magnum tumors were operated upon via the far lateral approach without     drilling of the occipital condyle. All patients underwent postoperative CT scan     of the brain. An MRI and CT of the craniocervical junction were done 3 months     postoperatively to assess the extent of tumor and bone removal respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The far lateral approach was found adequate for complete excision in     eight out of ten cases of foramen magnum tumors. In the remaining two cases, the     tumors were found adherent to the brain stem so complete excision was not done.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The far lateral approach (without drilling of the occipital condyle)     proved adequate for excision of most cases of anteriorly situated foramen magnum     tumors.
authors.affiliation: Cairo University, 26, Maadi 11431, Egypt. ayoubegypt@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Basim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ayoub
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed