Transoral needle procedures for upper cervical spine and clival lesions: technical note and indications

Abstract

Transoral needle procedures are minimally invasive techniques derived from the transoral (or transoropharyngeal) approach to the upper cervical spine and clival region. They are indicated for diagnostic procedures and vertebroplasty. These techniques are appropriated to access midline pathologies from the lower clivus to the C2-C3 disk. This article describes in a step by step manner, the technique and indications for needle biopsy and vertebroplasty in this region, discussing technical nuances.

Keywords

• transoral procedures
• biopsy
• vertebroplasty
• atlas
• axis
• clivus