Background: To facilitate effective resection of deep-seated brain lesions without causing significant trauma to the overlying cortex, the authors used a transparent plastic tubular retractor to approach these lesions.
Methods: Between July 2009 and January 2011, we used an 11-mm diameter transparent plastic tubular retractor in combination with a frameless stereotactic navigation system to remove 18 deep lesions.
Results: Gross total resection of the lesions was achieved in 14 of 18 patients, and subtotal removal occurred in four patients. Effective resection of lesions was achieved in all patients through small size craniotomy window and small cortical incision. The histopathologic diagnosis was established in all 18 patients: 3 hematomas, 3 cavernous angioma, 7 low-grade glioma, 2 dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, 1 choroid plexus papilloma, 1 abscess, and 1 meningioma.
Conclusion: Microsurgery using a transparent tubular retractor guided by a neuronavigation system facilitated accurate and effective removal of these deep-seated brain lesions.