Journal
CHILDS NERVOUS SYSTEM
Volume 31, Issue 10, Pages 1815-1840Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-015-2799-y
Keywords
Pediatric brainstem gliomas; Brainstem surgery; Safe entry zone; White fiber anatomy Supratrigeminal approach; Low-grade astrocytoma
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
To analyze the pathways to brainstem tumors in childhood, as well as safe entry zones. We conducted a retrospective study of 207 patients less than 18 years old who underwent brainstem tumor resection by the first author (Cavalheiro, S.) at the Neurosurgical Service and Pediatric Oncology Institute of the So Paulo Federal University from 1991 to 2011. Brainstem tumors corresponded to 9.1 % of all pediatric tumors operated in that same period. Eleven previously described safe entry zones were used. We describe a new safe zone located in the superior ventral pons, which we named supratrigeminal approach. The operative mortality seen in the first 2 months after surgery was 1.9 % (four patients), and the morbidity rate was 21.2 %. Anatomic knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic brainstem structures, in association with a refined neurosurgical technique assisted by intraoperative monitoring, and surgical planning based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and tractography have allowed for wide resection of brainstem lesions with low mortality and acceptable morbidity rates.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available