title: Successful resection of anterior and anterolateral lesions at the craniovertebral junction using a simple posterolateral approach.
abstract: Tumors at the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) often present a challenge due to proximity to vital neurovascular structures. In the last few decades, many authors have proposed complex surgical approaches to access pathologies located anterior or anterolateral to the CVJ with the hopes of reducing morbidity. We propose that the simple posterolateral approach in a semi-sitting position can be used to resect most anterior and anterolateral CVJ tumors safely and effectively. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical series of 10 patients treated by the senior author using the posterolateral suboccipital approach to treat anterior or anterolateral CVJ pathologies. We describe our surgical techniques, outcomes, and present illustrative patients. Gross total resection was achieved in eight patients (80%). Good functional outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale 4-5) was obtained in all patients. Preoperative symptoms and deficits were improved (78%) or stable (22%) in all patients. There was one (10%) surgical complication that was cerebrospinal fluid leak requiring reoperation. There was no permanent morbidity or mortality in this series. There were two (20%) medical complications including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. There were three (30%) transient neurologic complications, dysphagia in two and dysarthria in one, all of which resolved completely in early follow-up. The majority of anterior or anterolateral CVJ lesions can be successfully removed using the simple posterolateral approach.
authors.affiliation: Dardinger Microneurosurgical Skull Base Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University Medical Center, N1025 Doan Hall, 410 W. 10th Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Varun R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Kshettry
authors.affiliation: Dardinger Microneurosurgical Skull Base Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University Medical Center, N1025 Doan Hall, 410 W. 10th Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Silky
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chotai
authors.affiliation: Dardinger Microneurosurgical Skull Base Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University Medical Center, N1025 Doan Hall, 410 W. 10th Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Dardinger Microneurosurgical Skull Base Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University Medical Center, N1025 Doan Hall, 410 W. 10th Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lamki
authors.affiliation: Dardinger Microneurosurgical Skull Base Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University Medical Center, N1025 Doan Hall, 410 W. 10th Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Mario.Ammirati@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammirati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001270:Cervical Atlas; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019291:Skull Base; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Clinical outcome; Craniovertebral junction; Neurosurgery