Terminology

Neurosurgical departments with the philosophy of technical innovation may use mininvasive approaches in brain tumor and spinal cord tumor neurosurgery. This philosophy is based on the concept of obtaining the same or even better results than using conventional approaches. It must be kept in mind that mininvasive neurosurgery should not be used as a technical exercise.
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is contained in a bony-ligamentous box. To gain access, this box must be opened. The opening of the "box" is minimized in mininvasive neurosurgery. For brain tumors, the contrary may be true, i.e. for some tumors of the cranial base, the "box" must be widely opened to permit safe access to its deep structures. Thus, mininvasive neurosurgery for brain tumors and spinal cord tumors should be used under well-established criteria and in selected cases, otherwise a clinical disaster may be expected.
In the Neurosurgical Division of the "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, some mininvasive techniques are used whenever possible, thanks also to the use of modern operative technologies.
This is an elegant way to access the anterior cranial base brain tumors: meningioma of the planum sphenoidale, ethmoidal meningioma, tuberculum sellae meningioma, craniopharyngioma. An incision is made on the supraorbital rim and a small bony window is cut (2x3 cm). The key is correct patient positioning, which permits the frontal lobe to be gently displaced to reach the operating field. A great advantage is that these patients do not need any antiepileptic drugs, as the brain has practically no contusion. The cosmetic results are excellent. Another advantage is that the temporal muscle is not damaged, as in lateral approaches, thus avoiding the frequent chewing problems and post-operative pain. Spinal meningiomas and neurinomas are intradural, extramedullary tumors that may be easily removed through a small unilateral window. This is a great advantage: post-operative pain is considerably reduced, there is no post-operative instability of the spine (10% of late instability with conventional bilateral approaches) and no need for external orthopedic devices.