Neuroendoscopy Assisted Microneurosurgery For Posterior Cranial Fossa Lesions

Objective : To study the value of neuroendoscopy assisted microneurosurgery technique in the treatment of posterior cranial fossa lesions.Methods:Clinical data of 32 patients with posterior fossa lesions who accepted neuroendoscopy assisted microneurosurgery(NEAM group)in the department of neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University,from January 2014 to December 2016,were retrospectively enrolled.A total of 108 cases diagnosed with the same lesions and accepted conventional microneurosurgery(non-NEAM group)in the same period were analyzed as control group.The total resection rate,postoperative leakage of cerebrospinal fluid,intracranial infection,operating time and the recovery of facial nerve function were compared between the two groups.Results:Ninety-three patients with acoustic neuroma were analyzed,which were divided into non-NEAM group 78 cases(removed posterior lip of internal auditory canal in different degrees)and NEAM group 15 cases(not removed posterior lip of internal auditory canal).Results showed that NEAM group had no significant statistical differences for total resection rate and postoperative facial nerve function,and longer operating time than non-NEAM group(P=0.048,P < 0.05),but the rate of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid and intracranial infection did not increase.Twenty-seven cases were diagnosed with cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma.These cases were divided into two groups,17 cases in non-NEAM group and 10 cases in NEAM group.NEAM group have higher total resection rate(P=0.014,P<0.05),better short-term postoperative facial nerve function than non-NEAM group(P=0.039,P<0.05),and longer operating time than non-NEAM group(P=0.015,P < 0.05),compared with non-NEAM group.No significant statistical differences were observed on long-term postoperative facial nerve function,and postoperative complications.Of the 16 cases diagnosed tentorial meningioma,10 cases were in non-NEAM group and 6 cases in NEAM group.Six cases in non-NEAM group and 4 cases in NEAM group were total removal.For the mean operating time,non-NEAM group was(6.6±1.0)hours and NEAM group was(7.1±0.7)hours.Four cases with fourth ventricular cholesteatoma,which all were totally resected,and 3 cases were in non-NEAM group and1 case in NEAM group.For non-NEAM group,3 cases dissected cerebellar vermis and the mean operating time is 6.0 hours approximately.However,NEAM group did not dissect cerebellar vermis and the operating time is 6.5hours.Conclusions:Neuroendoscopy assisted microneurosurgery for cranial fossa lesions was benefit to totally resect tumor and reduce unnecessary injury.It needed longer operating time,but not increase postoperative intracranial infection.