Microsurgical Resection of Petroclival Tumors via the Subtemporal Transtentorial Approach.

AIM To study and summarize our experience with the subtemporal transtentorial approach for resection of petroclival tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-eight patients who suffered from petroclival tumors and underwent tumor resection via a subtemporal transtentorial approach between October 2010 and July 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Total resection was performed in 22 cases, at a rate of 78.57%, subtotal resection in 5 cases, and large portion resection in 1 case. 13 patients who suffered from varying degrees of postoperative nerve dysfunction all improved or recovered, during the 6 to 24 month post-operative follow up. CONCLUSION The subtemporal transtentorial approach is one of the best approaches for resection of petroclival tumors, especially for a tumor at the petrosal apex and upper-middle clival region, and has the advantages of less trauma, easy procedure of craniotomy, and also a good surgical exposure.