Direct surgery for intra-axial lesions of the brain stem is considered a hazardous procedure, and morbidity of varying degrees cannot be avoided even with partial removal or biopsy. The main causes of morbidity relate to direct damage during removal of the lesion, selection of an entry route into the brain stem, and the direction of brain stem retraction. The authors examined the possibility of making a medullary incision and retracting the brain stem, taking into account the symptomatology and surgical anatomy, and found two safe entry zones into the brain stem through a suboccipital approach via the floor of the fourth ventricle. These safe entry zones are areas where important neural structures are less prominent. One is the "suprafacial triangle," which is bordered medially by the medial longitudinal fascicle, caudally by the facial nerve (which runs in the brain-stem parenchyma), and laterally by the cerebellar peduncle. The second is the "infrafacial triangle," which is bordered medially by the medial longitudinal fascicle, caudally by the striae medullares, and laterally by the facial nerve. In order to minimize the retraction-related damage to important brain-stem structures, the brain stem should be retracted either laterally or rostrally in the suprafacial triangle approach and only laterally in the infrafacial triangle approach. Three localized intra-axial brain-stem lesions were treated surgically via the safe entry zones using the suprafacial approach in two and the infrafacial approach in one. The cases are described and the approaches delineated. Both approaches are indicated for focal intra-axial lesions located unilaterally and dorsal to the medial lemniscus in the lower midbrain to the pons. Magnetic resonance imaging is useful in selecting these approaches, and intraoperative ultrasonography is helpful to confirm the exact location of a lesion before a medullary incision is made. These approaches can also be used as routes for aspiration of brain-stem hemorrhage as well as for tumor biopsy.

In a series of 32 surgical cases of carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysm, seven of the lesions were located in the "carotid cave." This special type of aneurysm is usually small and projects medially on the anteroposterior view of the angiogram. At surgery, it is located intradurally at the dural penetration of the internal carotid artery (ICA) on the ventromedial side, appears to be buried in the dural pouch (carotid cave), and is often difficult to find, dissect, and clip. The aneurysm extends into the cavernous sinus space, and the parent ICA penetrates the dural ring obliquely. An ipsilateral pterional approach was used in all 32 cases, and ring clips were used exclusively because the aneurysms were located ventromedially. Clipping was successful in five cases. All patients returned to their preoperative occupation, although vision worsened postoperatively in two cases. The technical steps required for successful obliteration of this aneurysm are summarized as follows: 1) exposure of the cervical ICA; 2) unroofing of the optic canal and removal of the anterior clinoid process; 3) exploration of the ICA around the dural ring and opening of the cavernous sinus; 4) direct retraction of the ICA and optic nerve; and 5) application of multiple ring clips to conform to the natural curvature of the carotid artery; a curved-blade ring clip is especially useful. The relevant topographic anatomy is discussed.

Aneurysms arising from the dorsal wall of the internal carotid artery are rare. The authors surgically treated twenty dorsal internal carotid artery aneurysms. Pre-operative angiographic findings were reviewed and classified into three types. Eleven aneurysms projecting superiorly on the lateral angiogram were found to be adherent to the base of the frontal lobe by the pterional approach. Five aneurysms which had been superimposed with the internal carotid artery on the lateral angiogram were found adhered to the medial surface of the temporal lobe. Four aneurysms not seen on the angiogram had no adhesion. Two aneurysms, which had not been seen on the initial angiograms, were visualized on the angiograms taken during the period of vasospasm. This type of aneurysms can be the source of a subarachnoid haemorrhage of unknown origin and requires repeated examinations. Premature rupture occurred intra-operatively in five cases and postoperative bleeding was encountered in two. Clipping technique is discussed from the viewpoint of preventing intra- and postoperative rupture.

✓ Idiopathic syringomyelia, which is not associated with any definite pathogenic lesions, has been treated mainly by shunting of the syrinx and rarely by craniocervical decompression. The authors report four cases of syringomyelia thought to be idiopathic syringomyelia but treated by craniocervical decompression with favorable results. Syringomyelia was present without hindbrain herniation. In such cases, the subarachnoid space anterior to the brainstem at the level of the foramen magnum is usually open but the cisterna magna is impacted by the tonsils, a condition the authors term “tight cisterna magna.” All patients underwent foramen magnum decompression and C-1 laminectomy, and the outer layer of the dura was peeled off. Further intradural exploration was performed when outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the fourth ventricle was deemed to be insufficient. Postoperatively, improvement in symptoms and a reduction in syrinx size were demonstrated in three patients, and a reduction in ventricle size was shown in two. Syringomyelia associated with tight cisterna magna should not be classified as idiopathic syringomyelia; rather, it belongs to the category of organic syringomyelia such as Chiari malformation. A possible pathogenesis of cavitation is obstruction of the CSF outflow from the foramen of Magendie, and the cavity may be a communicating dilation of the central canal. Ventricular dilation may depend on the extent to which CSF drainage is impaired from the foramina of Luschka. These cavities may respond to craniocervical decompression if it results in sufficient CSF outflow from the foramen of Magendie, even in cases with concomitant hydrocephalus.

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