Tailored Surgical Approaches for Foramem Magnum Tumors
Arq. bras. neurocir; 39 (2), 2020
Publication year: 2020
Objective To describe our surgical techniques, analyze their safety and their postoperative
outcomes for foramen magnum tumors (FMTs).
Methods From 1986 to 2014, 34 patients with FMTs underwent surgeries using either
the lateral suboccipital approach, standard midline suboccipital craniotomy, or the far
lateral approach, depending on the anatomic location of the lesions.
Results In the present series, there were 22 (64.7%) female and 12 (35.2%)male patients.
The age of the patients ranged from12 to 63 years old.We observed 1 operativemortality
(2.9%). A total of 28 patients (82.3%) achieved a score of 4 or 5 in the Glasgow Outcome
Scale (GOS). Gross total resection (GTR) was obtained in 22 (64.7%) patients. After the
surgery, 9 (26%) patients developed lower cranial nerve dysfunction (LCNd) weakness. The
follow-up varied from 1 to 24 years (mean: 13.2 years).
Conclusion Themajority of tumors located in the FMcan be safely and efficiently removed
usingeither thelateral suboccipital approach, standardmiddlelinesuboccipital craniotomy,
or the far lateral approach, depending on the anatomic location of the lesions.