The endoscopic-assisted approach versus the microscopic only approach in resection of cerebellopontine angle epidermoids: a 5-year retrospective study

Abstract

Abstract Background The endoscopic-assisted technique has been utilized with various intracranial lesions with many approaches. In the cerebellopontine angle (CPA), the technique has been used to combine the benefits of the operating microscope and the endoscope. In this study, we highlight the use of the endoscopic-assisted technique in resection of CPA epidermoid tumors to ensure a total resection, decrease complications and protect the neurovascular tangles. Results In the endoscopic-assisted group, only 18.8% of the patients had post-operative residual in the post-operative MRI. However, in the microscopic only group 56.3% of the patients had post-operative residual. Consequently, there is a statistically significant difference regarding the post-operative residual between the two groups. Conclusions The endoscopic-assisted approach is superior to the microscopic only approach in the excision of CPA epidermoids and minimizing the post-operative residual and the recurrence.

Keywords

• Endoscopic-assisted technique
• Cerebellopontine angle
• Epidermoid tumor
• Microscopic only