In spite of having been the object of considerable attention, the histopathological grading of oligodendrogliomas is still controversial. The determination of reliable biomarkers capable of improving the malignancy grading remains an essential step in working toward better therapeutic management of patients.

-We report our experience with a supraorbital eyebrow minicraniotomy. This technique is suitable to lesions situated in the region of the anterior fossa, suprasellar cisterns, parasellar region and Sylvian fissure. A 50 mm incision in the eyebrow and a supraorbital minicraniotomy is performed. Sixteem patients harboring different lesions were operated on with good postoperative and cosmetic results. We conclude that this approach is safe and useful in selected cases.KEY WORDS: tumor, aneurysm, skull base, minimally invasive, surgical approach.Abordagem supra-orbitária superciliar de lesões da base do crânio RESUMO -Reportamos nossa experiência com o uso de uma minicraniotomia supra-orbitária através do supercílio para tratamento de lesões situadas na fossa anterior, cisterna supra-selar, para-selar e fissura de Sylvius. Uma incisão de 50 mm é realizada no supercílio, seguida de minicraniotomia. Dezesseis pacientes portadores de diferentes lesões foram operados e apresentaram bom resultado pós-operatório e também estético. Concluímos que esse acesso é seguro e útil em casos selecionados PALAVRAS-CHAVE: tumor, aneurisma, base do crânio, abordagem minimamente invasiva, acesso cirúrgico. Usually tumors, aneurysms, and other lesions situated in the anterior or middle cranial fossae are approached by the standard classic pterional craniotomy [1][2][3] . Some other new techniques are also used to approach the orbit, anterior fossa and skull base 4-9 .Recently Perneczky et al. [10][11][12] have developed several supraorbital endoscopic "key-hole" approaches and demonstrated a good visualization of the socalled "suprasellar virtual pyramid". Combination of endoscopy and microneurosurgery permits the reduction of the size of the craniotomy required for good visualization of tumor or aneurysm and surrounding structures if compared to traditional techniques. We report our experience with a supraorbital eyebrow approach. We add to the description of our 16 cases some details on important landmarks. These landmarks are useful to preserve the frontotemporal branch of the facial nerve, the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves in order to prevent cosmetic sequela of this easy and time-sparing procedure.

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This pilot study showed no difference between surgical or medical management for recovery or improvement in patients with discogenic paresis. These results need confirmation by a randomized study.

Posterior lumbar epidural fat is not a simple incidental tissue and shows specific histologic features: sliding spaces and rarefaction of connective tissue that could explain semifluid features of the tissue. These characteristics suggest a functional role of posterior epidural fat in the lumbar spinal unit.

Extradural arachnoid cysts are uncommon expanding lesions in the spinal canal which may communicate with the subarachnoid space. Usually in the lower thoracic spine, they may cause symptoms by compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. We report cases of thoracic and lumbar arachnoid cysts studied by cystography, myelography, CT and MRI. These techniques showed extradural cystic lesions containing cerebrospinal fluid, with variable communication with the subarachnoid space, causing anterior displacement and flattening of the spinal cord.

We report three patients with a sequestrated disc fragment posterior to the thecal sac. The affected disc was lumbar in two cases and thoracic in the third. Disc fragment migration is usually limited to the anterior extra dural space. Migration of a disc fragment behind the dural sac is seldom encountered. MRI appears to be the method of choice to make this diagnosis. The disc fragments gave low signal on T1- and slightly high signal on T2-weighted images and showed rim contrast enhancement. The differential diagnosis includes abscess, metastatic tumour and haematoma.