Expanded endoscopic endonasal transpterygoid transmaxillary approach for a giant trigeminal schwannoma

Neurosurg Focus Video. 2020 Apr 1;2(2):V15. doi: 10.3171/2020.4.FocusVid.19904. eCollection 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Atypical trigeminal schwannomas (ATSs) are notorious for their ability to invade the skull base. An expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (eEEA) provides direct access to the tumor with no need for cerebral retraction or manipulation of neurovascular structures. Herein, we present a case of a large temporal fossa extradural lesion with secondary invasion of the sella, clivus, and temporal and infratemporal fossae in a 49-year-old male with severe vision loss. A transpterygoid transmaxillary approach was performed. Gross-total removal was achieved and pathology revealed the diagnosis of ATS. Visual function fully recovered in the right side and the patient has been uneventfully followed since surgery. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/6pSwdYsN9hk.

Keywords: endonasal; infratemporal; minimally invasive; schwannoma; skull base; video.