Surgical Nuances of Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Craniopharyngiomas: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Understanding of the microsurgical anatomy of the sella and suprasellar space is necessary for successful selection of surgical approaches and resection of craniopharyngiomas. Endoscopic endonasal surgery provides excellent exposure of the suprasellar space and has become the approach of choice for most of those tumors. In this video, we discuss the anatomical and surgical nuances for resection of craniopharyngiomas via an endoscopic transtuberculum transplanum approach. Anatomical dissections and a clinical case are used to illustrate the technique. This is the case of a 52-yr-old woman who presented to our clinic with a history of progressive visual decline and headaches, but no hormonal deficiencies. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the presence of a sella suprasellar solid cystic lesion suggestive of a craniopharyngioma. The lesion was mainly located anterior to the chiasm, preinfundibular and medial to the posterior-communicating artery. Considering the patient presented with no hormonal deficits, it was decided to proceed with an endoscopic extended approach for maximum tumor resection while attempting to preserve the pituitary stalk and gland and its function. The patient provided consent to undergo the procedure and for the surgical video. After a binostril approach and harvesting of vascularized flap, a large sphenoidotomy was performed, followed by a transtuberculum transplanum approach. The tumor was resected with blunt and sharp dissection with careful preservation of the branches of the superior hypophyseal and posterior-communicating arteries. Closure was performed in a multilayer fashion, with dura substitute, fascia lata, and vascularized flap. The patient had visual improvement after surgery and was discharged at postoperative day 5 with no complications. Anatomical dissection pictures © 2019 Joao Paulo Almeida, MD. Used with permission.

Almeida JP ，Vescan A ，Gentili F 《-》

Customized ventral bony and dural opening in the transplanum/transtuberculum and transclival variants of extended endoscopic endonasal approach to suprasellar craniopharyngiomas: an approach-based stepwise cadaveric dissection and clinical applicability.

Optimal initial exposure through an extended endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for suprasellar craniopharyngiomas ensures safe and unrestricted surgical access while avoiding overexposure, which may prolong the procedure and increase neurovascular adverse events. Here, the authors outline the surgical nuances of a customized bony and dural opening through the transplanum/transtuberculum and transclival variants of the extended EEA to suprasellar craniopharyngiomas based on the tumor-pituitary stalk relationship. A stepwise cadaveric dissection and intraoperative photographs relevant to the approaches are also provided. Safe maximal resection of suprasellar craniopharyngiomas through extended EEAs can be feasibly and safely achieved by implementing of tailored ventral exposure.

Khaleghi M ，Otto B ，Carrau R ，Abouammo MD ，Prevedello DM ... -  《-》

Surgical Anatomy Applied to the Resection of Craniopharyngiomas: Anatomic Compartments and Surgical Classifications.

Resective surgery remains the main treatment option for most patients with craniopharyngiomas. Understanding of the microsurgical anatomy of the sella and suprasellar region and its relationship with these tumors is necessary to achieve effective surgical treatment and minimize complications. In this article, we review the surgical anatomy related to craniopharyngiomas and divide it in 5 compartments according to tumor extension. Endoscopic and microsurgical dissection were performed in 3 freshly injected cadaver heads at the Weill Cornell Surgical Innovations Laboratory (New York, New York, USA) and at the Surgical Skills Center at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Tumor extension was classified as 1) inferomedial or sellar, 2) superomedial or suprasellar, 3) lateral or sylvian, 4) posterior or interpeduncular/prepontine, and 5) intraventricular. The selection of surgical approaches is discussed based on the anatomic nuances of each these regions. In addition, we reviewed the literature regarding previous anatomic classifications for resection of craniopharyngiomas. Different approaches should be considered according to tumor extension into different compartments. Purely sellar tumors are amenable to endoscopic transsellar approaches, whereas those with a suprasellar extension require an extended transtuberculum approach. In some of those patients, a narrow chiasm-pituitary window may block access to the tumor and a transcranial translamina terminalis approach may be favored. Tumors occupying the interpeduncular fossa may pose a significant challenge for an endoscopic endonasal approach and transcranial approaches. Transcavernous approaches and anterior and posterior clinoidectomies may be required for adequate exposure in such patients. Translamina terminalis and/or transcallosal approaches are recommended for resection of purely intraventricular tumors. Tumors extending into the lateral compartment should be considered for transcranial frontotemporal approaches. The understanding of such anatomic nuances aids in the selection of the most appropriate surgical approach and in the prevention of potential complications. Because most craniopharyngiomas are midline lesions, the endoscopic endonasal approach represents an excellent approach for most of those tumors. However, transcranial approaches should be considered for tumors with extension into the lateral compartment and for selected tumors involving the ventricular compartment (purely intraventricular tumors and those with extension to the foramen of Monro and/or lateral ventricles).

Almeida JP ，Workewych A ，Takami H ，Velasquez C ，Oswari S ，Asha M ，Bernardo A ，Gentili F ... -  《-》

Suprasellar and recurrent pediatric craniopharyngiomas: expanding indications for the extended endoscopic transsphenoidal approach.

Alalade AF ，Ogando-Rivas E ，Boatey J ，Souweidane MM ，Anand VK ，Greenfield JP ，Schwartz TH ... -  《-》

Endoscopic Endonasal Transtuberculum Approach for Pediatric Tuberoinfundibular Craniopharyngioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

The endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum approach grants access to suprasellar and retrochiasmatic lesions with hypothalamic involvement. Here, we present a case of a 13-year-old boy with a history of stunted growth, decreased vision, headaches, and low energy with a tuberoinfundibular craniopharyngioma. The patient consented to the procedure. Evaluation of the sphenoid sinus pneumatization, internal carotid artery disposition, presence of clinoidal rings, variations of the infrachiasmatic corridor (optic chiasm location, height of dorsum sella), and location of the pituitary stalk are crucial for surgical strategy. Harvesting of nasoseptal flap and access to the sphenoid sinus; drilling the sella, tuberculum, and chiasmatic sulcus up to the limbus sphenoidalis and laterally exposing the clinoidal carotid artery segment; wide dural opening to the level of distal rings inferolaterally and falciform ligaments superolaterally; identification and coagulation of superior hypophyseal branches providing tumor supply; intracapsular dissection and debulking and subpial sharp dissection at the hypothalamic tumor interface to achieve complete removal; and reconstruction with inlay collagen, fascia lata, and nasoseptal flap. Preservation of the superior hypophyseal arteries and stalk is essential for preventing pituitary dysfunction. Preoperative reckoning of hypothalamic invasion and identification of adequate interface aids in avoiding complications. To reduce CSF leak risk, multilayer reconstruction was performed and lumbar drain placed postoperatively. For retroclival extension, intradural pituitary transposition should be considered to expand the corridor; in patients with preoperative hypopituitarism, pituitary sacrifice is most effective to increase retroclival access.

Vigo V ，Chang JE ，Nunez MA ，Prolo LM ，Hwang PH ，Fernandez-Miranda JC ... -  《-》