Atlas of Microsurgery of the Lateral Skull Base - hardcover

In this completely revised and enlarged new edition, Professor Sanna and his team provide systematic demonstrations of the major lateral skull base approaches based on 20 years of experience of the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy. The major problem in performing skull base surgery has always been the complex anatomy and the crowding of major neurovascular structures in a deep and relatively inaccessible location. Standard anatomy textbooks fail to address this issue. Therefore, an actual demonstration of the anatomy seen during the different surgical approaches is presented in this book. This is followed by step-by-step descriptions of the surgical technique for each approach and by clinical cases that represent the most commonly encountered lesions so that the surgeon receives a comprehensive understanding of how to perform the approach and what to expect during surgery. "Pearls and pitfalls" at the end of most chapters are practical tips gathered from the vast number of cases managed throughout the years and are included to help others avoid mistakes. In addition to the description of surgical approaches, introductory chapters on the general principles, instrumentation, and special considerations that characterize this type of surgery are presented. The radiology of skull base lesions is discussed as it relates to surgery, with particular emphasis on findings that can influence the choice of the surgical approach, alter the course of surgery, or affect the prognosis. Whereas the lateral approaches manage to access the majority of skull base lesions, certain extensive tumors represent particular challenges. For such cases, combined approaches provide the necessary route. These are addressed in detail, as well as management strategies for different skull base lesions (e.g., surgical vs. nonsurgical management, the different factors that determine the choice of the surgical approach, cases that are managed conservatively or with radiosurgery). The management of the internal carotid artery in skull base surgery is discussed in the last chapter, emphasizing the role of the interventional radiologist.