• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1144-1149
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• 2001

Schwannomas of the jugular foramen, originating from the glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus and accessory nerve represent approximately 0.17-0.72% of all intracranial tumor, and consists of 1.4-2.9% of all intracranial schwannomas. The clinical presentation of these tumors varies significantly according to originated nerve and it's growth pattern. Magnetic resonance(MR) image and temporal bone computed tomography(CT) scan have a major role for diagnosis of such tumor. The treatment of choice is total resection whenever possible. Generally, suboccipital approach is sufficient for the removal of the tumor, but in case with large size, combination of resection of petrous part of temporal bone with or without transection of sigmoid sinus is may be necessory. We have recently experienced one case of giant jugular foramen schwannoma and postoperative fatal complication in a 34-year-old male who was treated with combined posterior petrous and suboccipital approach with transection of sigmoid sinus

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2007

Hypoglossal neurilemmoma is extremely rare. Intracranial hypoglossal neurilemmoma has been reported to the present most commonly as a space-occupying lesion with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. A 68-year-old women presented with deviation of the tongue to the left on protrusion. Preoperative radiological images revealed an extra-axial mass in and around the hypoglossal canal. The tumor was totally resected via retrosigmoid suboccipital approach with burrhole craniectomy. Histopathological examination verified a neurilemmoma. She had no neurologic abnormality except hypoglossal palsy which recovered completely in six months. Retrosigmoid suboccipital approach with burrhole craniectomy can be an useful approach in intracranial hypoglossal neurilemmoma without extracranial extension or with minimal extracranial extension into the hypoglossal canal.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.206-209
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• 2006

Objective : Traditionally, standard access to the posterior fossa was a suboccipital craniectomy. After introducing the technique and benefit of posterior fossa craniotomy, several surgeons have used this procedure to manage various pathologies in posterior fossa in children. Though this approach offers several advantages over conventional suboccipital craniectomy, the elevation of bone flap is not easy in adult because of the irregular contour of inner bone surface and tight adhesion of dura to the skull. The aim of this article is to describe the technical aspects of this approach and to delineate the important landmarks for a safe and quick performance in adult. Methods : We report on our series of twenty-five adult patients who underwent craniotomy for posterior fossa pathologies between 2002 and 2005. The maximal follow-up period was 4 years. Results : None of the patients complained of persistent headache and no CSF leaks have occurred postoperatively. We have encountered only two cases of transient subcutaneous CSF retention after craniotomy. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the CT scan confirmed the well-fitted suboccipital bone contour after craniotomy. And patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. Conclusion : This method is safer and simpler. It restores normal anatomical planes and improves protection of the contents of the posterior fossa. The authors recommend craniotomy as an alternative method of access to the posterior fossa in all age groups.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 1999

Neurinoma originates from any nerve covered with a Schwann cell sheath and can occur in any cranial, sympathetic, or peripheral nerve. Hypoglossal neurinomas are rare and most of them are intracranial, but they may extend extracranially. Most intracranial neurinoma arise from the sensory division of cranial nerve but a motor nerve such as hypoglossal nerve is rarely involved. Although the typical sign of hypoglossal neurinoma is ipsilateral hemiatrophy of the tongue, it is easily overlooked. For the diagnosis of hypoglossal nerve tumor, CT scanning with contrast enhancement and MRI should be included, and they are greatly aids in planning the radical removal of the tumor. We experienced a case of intracranial hypoglossal neurinoma with extracranial extension in a 43-year-old woman. The patient showed otherwise unremarkable except 4 months history of right infraauricular mass and right tongue hemiatrophy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for local diagnosis was valuable and we could remove the mass by one stage operation via suboccipital transcervical approach.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.399-404
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• 2005

Objective: Aneurysms arising from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA) are uncommon. We review literature on that and surgical results on aneurysmal treatment by choice of surgical approach. Methods: On the basis of radiologic findings & charts, we review retrospectively the surgical results of 12 cases from Mar 1999 to Dec 2003. Results: The mean age of the 12 patients was 55.8(ranged from 36 to 71) and female was predominant (female:male = 8:4). Locations of PICA aneurysms revealed variously(vertebral artery - PICA junction: 8, lateral medullary segment: 2, PICA - anterior inferior cerebellar artery common trunk: 1, telovelomedullary : 1). Surgical approaches & treatments were attempted in 11 cases and embolization was done in 1 case(Far lateral transcondylar or supracondylar approach & clipping: 9, Far lateral transcondylar or supracondylar approach and trapping: 2, suboccipital approach & clipping: 1). The surgical result were 8 of 12 patients were good outcome, 1 of 12 was severely disabled and 3 of 12 were died. Conclusion: First, we choose surgical approach by the laterality of aneurysms and surgical or interventional treatment is attempted as soon as possible. The PICA aneurysm is regarded as having a relatively good surgical outcome without drilling of the posterior arch of the atlas.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.310-312
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• 2005

We report a case of endodermal cyst of the posterior fossa. A 44-year-old man presented with headache for three months. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a $6{\times}2.5{\times}2cm$ sized extra-axial non-enhancing cystic lesion on the ventral aspect to brain stem. To avoid retraction injury to brain stem, far lateral transcondylar approach was selected. Right suboccipital craniotomy and partial removal of occipital condyle with resection of C-1 and C-2 hemilaminae exposed the extra-axial cyst well. The cyst has a whitish thick membrane. It was not adherent to brain stem and lower cranial nerves. Total removal of the cyst was done without difficulty. Histological analysis disclosed a layer of pseudostratified columnar epithelium with basement membrane. The result of immunohistochemical study was consistent with endodermal cyst.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2006

Objective : The authors study on the clinical presentations and the surgical outcomes of the tumors in the ventricular system. Methods : 15 patients with ventricular tumor were studied. The clinical presentation, radiological findings, different surgical approaches, and outcome were analyzed. Tumors were classified into three groups based on their locations in MRI : lateral, third and fourth ventricle. Surgical methods were transcortical approach in eight patients, transcallosal approach in four, median suboccipital approach in two, and subfrontal approach in one. Gross total removal was achieved in 10 patients. Subtotal resections were performed in the rest. Glasgow outcome scale was used for evaluation of the surgical outcome. Results : Main clinical presentations were chronic headache in patients with the tumor in the lateral ventricular tumor and sudden onset of headache and consciousness change in patients with the tumor in the third and fourth ventricular tumor Development of hydrocephalus was more predominant in patients with the tumors in the third ventricle. Postoperatively, good outcome [Glasgow outcome scale IV, V] were in 73%, and better results was observed in patients with the tumors in the lateral ventricular tumor. The differences of outcome according to surgical approach were not recognized, even though it was not reliable statistically. Conclusion : In ventricular tumor, postoperative outcome is not good in patients with sudden development of headache, hydrocephalus, high grade tumor. Outcome is good in patients with the tumor in the lateral ventricle relatively. There is no difference in outcome according to the approach method to the tumors. And it is necessary to be aware of various approach methods to the tumors and anatomy surrounding the ventricle for avoidance of neurological complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2017

Objective : To explore and analyze the influencing factors of facial nerve function retainment after microsurgery resection of acoustic neurinoma. Methods : Retrospective analysis of our hospital 105 acoustic neuroma cases from October, 2006 to January 2012, in the group all patients were treated with suboccipital sigmoid sinus approach to acoustic neuroma microsurgery resection. We adopted researching individual patient data, outpatient review and telephone followed up and the House-Brackmann grading system to evaluate and analyze the facial nerve function. Results : Among 105 patients in this study group, complete surgical resection rate was 80.9% (85/105), subtotal resection rate was 14.3% (15/105), and partial resection rate 4.8% (5/105). The rate of facial nerve retainment on neuroanatomy was 95.3% (100/105) and the mortality rate was 2.1% (2/105). Facial nerve function when the patient is discharged from the hospital, also known as immediate facial nerve function which was graded in House-Brackmann : excellent facial nerve function (House-Brackmann I-II level) cases accounted for 75.2% (79/105), facial nerve function III-IV level cases accounted for 22.9% (24/105), and V-VI cases accounted for 1.9% (2/105). Patients were followed up for more than one year, with excellent facial nerve function retention rate (H-B I-II level) was 74.4% (58/78). Conclusion : Acoustic neuroma patients after surgery, the long-term (${\geq}1year$) facial nerve function excellent retaining rate was closely related with surgical proficiency, post-operative immediate facial nerve function, diameter of tumor and whether to use electrophysiological monitoring techniques; while there was no significant correlation with the patient's age, surgical approach, whether to stripping the internal auditory canal, whether there was cystic degeneration, tumor recurrence, whether to merge with obstructive hydrocephalus and the length of the duration of symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.118-125
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• 2000

Objective : Trigeminal neurinomas are rare tumors that may locate in the middle fossa or posterior fossa and straddled both the middle and posterior fossa, according to their origin in the nerve complex. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical presentation, operative approaches employed and outcome in 15 patients who were treated surgically, with special emphasis on surgical approach. Method : Between 1994 and 1998, a total of fifteen patients were histopathologically identified as neurinomas originating from the trigeminal nerve complex at the tumor clinic in the neuroscience center of the our university. Results : The surgical approach to these tumors depends on their anatomical location and tumor size. Six patients had tumors confined to the middle fossa, five patients had tumors limited to the posterior fossa, and four patients both in middle and posterior fossa components of their tumors. Nine neurinomas were removed via the conventional approach(pterional, subtemporal, suboccipital) and six were excised using skull base approach(transzygomatic subtemporal, orbitozygomatic, transpetrosal). Total resection of the tumor was possible in 10 cases. Total resection of tumor was accomplished in 83% of patients following skull base approach compared with 56% of patients following conventional approach. The surgical outcome was excellent or good in 13 cases, fair in one and, poor in one. There was no operative death. In the immediate postoperative period, aggravation of preoperative facial hypesthesia and 6th cranial nerve palsy were common. Although, these deficits were generally transient, eight patients remained with some degree of trigeminal hypesthesia, two had facial weakness, one neurotrophic keratitis, one diplopia, and one mastication difficulty. Conclusion : Surgical approach to the trigeminal neurinoma depends on the tumor location and tumor size. Skull base approach provides more complete tumor excision without increased morbidity compared to conventional approach. Surgeons have to be meticulous in order to reduce postoperative complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1028-1032
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• 2001

The report of massive intratumoral hemorrhage from vestibular schwannoma is rare. A 66-year-old female who had suffered from disturbance of hearing for one year developed severe headache and dizziness. Brain MRI showed crescent shaped mass in the left cerebellopontine angle. A left suboccipital approach revealed an $3{\times}3cm$-sized encapsulated mass. The tumor was totally extirpated together with clot. Histologically the tumor was schwannoma with massive hemorrhage. Postoperative course was uneventful. The authors report the rare case of vestibular schwannoma presenting with intratumoral hemorrhage with review of possible pathophysiology and associated factor.