Download PDF
J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2013; 74(03): 114-117
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1338165
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Fully Endoscopic Resection of Pineal Region Tumors

Hrayr Shahinian
1   Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, Skull Base Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
,
Yoon Ra
2   Clinical Research, Skull Base Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

13 December 2012

03 January 2013

Publication Date:
22 March 2013 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background and Objective Surgical treatment for pineal tumors is technically challenging—weighing the risks and benefits of microsurgical resection for the patient with a pineal tumor versus settling for an endoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy is sometimes difficult. Traditional microsurgical resection for pineal region tumors has typically required large open craniotomies and involvement or retraction of neural tissue with significant mortality and morbidity. With the advancement of high-resolution fiber optics, a fully endoscopic, supracerebellar, infratentorial approach, without any cerebellar retraction or manipulation of neural tissue, is introduced for the gross total resection of pineal region tumors.

Conclusion As an endoscopic modification of the open craniotomy procedure, this technique combines the advantages and benefits of both open microsurgical resection and minimally invasive endoscopic surgeries.

Keywords

pineal tumors - parenchymal tumors - infratentorial supracerebellar - cerebellar tissue
 

  • References

  • 1 Jooma R, Kendall BE. Diagnosis and management of pineal tumors. J Neurosurg 1983; 58 (5) 654-665
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Rosegay H. The Krause operations. J Neurosurg 1992; 76 (6) 1032-1036
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Ziyal IM, Sekhar LN, Salas E, Olan WJ. Combined supra/infratentorial-transsinus approach to large pineal region tumors. J Nuerosurg 1998; 88 (6) 1050-1057
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Chapman PH, Linggood RM. The management of pineal area tumors: a recent reappraisal. Cancer 1980; 46: 1253-1257
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Stein BM. The infratentorial supracerebellar approach to pineal region. J Neurosurg 1971; 35: 197-202
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Jamieson KG. Excision of pineal tumors. J Neurosurg 1971; 35: 550-553
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Lazar ML, Clark WK. Direct surgical management of masses in the region of the vein of Galen. Surg Neurol 1974; 2: 17-21
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Reid WS, Clark WK. Comparison of the infratentorial and transtentorial approaches to the pineal region. Neurosurg 1978; 3: 1-8
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Tanaka R, Washiyama K. Occipital transtentorial approach to pineal region tumors. Operative Techniques in Neurosurg 2003; 6: 215-221
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Yamamoto I. Pineal region tumor: surgical anatomy and approach. J Neuro-Onc 2001; 54 (3) 263-275
    PubMedGoogle Scholar