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.