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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-934109
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
Surgical Management of Petroclival Chordomas: Report of Eight Cases
Publication History
Publication Date:
01 April 2006 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sbs/200602/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2006-934109-1.jpg)
ABSTRACT
In the management of skull base chordomas, surgical treatment is essential to achieve long-term control. A petroclival chordoma growing laterally in the skull base is one of the most challenging tumors for neurosurgeons. We have treated petroclival chordomas based on the principle of maximal surgical resection of the tumor with minimal morbidity. Lateral skull base approaches were used to approach petroclival chordomas in eight patients. The surgical procedure involved removal of soft tumor tissue and extensive drilling of adjacent bony structures. Gross total resection of the tumor was achieved in six patients. Subtotal resection in the remaining two patients was associated with acceptable morbidity. In cases of petroclival chordomas, lateral skull base approaches can be used as a primary procedure, although those approaches may be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality.
KEYWORDS
Chordoma - petrous bone - skull base - transpetrosal approach
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Kenji OhataM.D.
Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine
1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan
Email: kohata@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp