Endoscope assisted removal of jugular foramen schwannomas
Reviewed by Gauri Mankekar

This article, written by a renowned surgeon with extensive experience in removal of jugular foramen and skull base lesions, describes a new classification for jugular foramen schwannomas (JFS) and a template for selection of surgical approach for endoscope assisted removal. For this retrospective study, tumour extension, extent of tumour resection, cranial nerve outcome, approach-related morbidities and tumour recurrence in 16 patients with JFS were evaluated. The surgical approach was chosen depending upon the pattern and extent of tumour growth, extent of bone destruction in CT scans and the patient’s neurological status. The authors were successful in removing the entire tumour, even when there was an intraosseous extension, with the help of endoscope-assisted dissection. They also describe excellent results with lower cranial nerve preservation due to the use of the endoscope. This is another vindication for the mighty endoscope which is improving results of surgery in difficult to dissect skull base regions.

Surgical treatment of Jugular Foramen Schwannoma: surgical treatment based on a new classification.
Samii M, Alimohamadi M, Gerganov V.
NEUROSURGERY
2015;77:424-32.