title: Surgery Approaches to Brainstem Cavernous Malformations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize our experience in surgery approach to brainstem cavernous malformation (BSCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of 23 consecutive patients with BSCM receiving surgical resection in our center between July of 2003 and June of 2014 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suboccipital approach, retrosigmoid approach, infratentorial-supracerebellar approach, Poppen approach, pterional approach, Kawase approach, and interhemispheric transcallosal-third ventrical approach were applied, of which the last 2 approaches being firstly reported in BSCM surgery. Gross total resection was achieved in 22 patients, whereas subtotal resection in 1. Neurologic function was improved in 15 patients, unchanged in 7 patients, and deteriorated in 1 patient. During a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, no recurrence occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proper surgery approach is important to assure total resection, protect normal vital structures, and avoid recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Lufeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yongjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult