• Zixiao Yang, Xiang Zou, Jianping Song, Wei Zhu, and Ying Mao.
• National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2021 Oct 1; 154: 44-50.

ObjectiveDeep-seated brainstem cavernous malformations (BSCMs) pose a particular challenge for brainstem entry intraoperatively and their treatment can require comprehensive application of neuronavigation, electrophysiological brainstem mapping and monitoring, and full knowledge of safe brainstem entry zones. In the present report, we have introduced a supplementary technical trick for localizing a hidden tiny lesion inside the brainstem when a developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is present on the brainstem surface.MethodsA retrospective analysis of a 74-case cohort treated surgically from January 2011 to December 2019 was conducted. We identified 11 patients (14.9%) whose deep-seated BSCMs were exposed and removed following a brainstem surface DVA path as a supplementary technical trick. We have presented 2 typical cases to illustrate the operative nuances.ResultsOf the 11 patients, 5 were male and 6 were female. Their average age was 38.0 ± 14.0 years (range, 15-62 years). Most BSCMs were located in the pons (n = 5; 45.5%), followed by the pontomesencephalic area (n = 3; 27.3%), midbrain (n = 2; 18.2%), and medulla oblongata (n = 1; 9.1%). All BSCMs were successfully located and completely removed. In 5 cases, the DVA was impaired after lesion removal (45.5%). However, no aggravated postoperative brainstem edema occurred in any of the 11 patients. After 3.6 ± 2.0 years of follow-up (2 patients were lost to follow-up; follow-up rate, 81.8%), no rebleeding was found, and the modified Rankin scale score of the patients had improved from 2.7 ± 1.1 preoperatively to 1.7 ± 0.9 at follow-up (P = 0.031).ConclusionsThe presented method could help surgeons trace deep-seated BSCMs with minimal brainstem parenchyma impairment, avoiding unnecessary aggressive exploration.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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