Successful Surgery of Exophytic Brainstem Glioma Mimicking Cerebellar-Pontine Angle Tumor: Case Report and Review of Literature

Brainstem Pilocytic Astrocytoma, a Surgical Disease: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

“…

Brainstem pilocytic astrocytomas are benign lesions that frequently develop in the medulla with an often exophytic component. [1][2][3] These lesions develop in children and young adults and are revealed by lower cranial nerves dysfunction and long tracts involvement. Medulla pilocytic astrocytomas have a better overall prognosis than pontine and midbrain lesions, particularly after surgical resection, which can be curative, allowing the control of the disease and avoiding adjuvant treatments in young patients.

…”

“…Medulla pilocytic astrocytomas have a better overall prognosis than pontine and midbrain lesions, particularly after surgical resection, which can be curative, allowing the control of the disease and avoiding adjuvant treatments in young patients. [2][3][4][5] The transcondylar approach with mobilization of the vertebral artery offers the necessary ventral exposure for the resection of such medulla oblongata lesions. 6 After exposure, the initial step of resection starts with the cerebellopontine angle occupying exophytic portion after identification of cerebrovascular landmarks.…”