A rare case of teratoma occuring in the posterior cranial fossa is reported. The tumor was partially encapsulated, and a surgical removal was accomplished. Teratoma is defined as a true tumor, composed of several types of tissues representing more than one germinal layer, which are foreign to the part in which it arises. The literature on teratomas located in the posterior cranial fossa is reviewed.
Cranial Fossa, Posterior* ; Teratoma*

Meningiomas in the clival region are not common. These tumors present some of the most formidable challenges in skull base surgery. Total removal of clival meningoma has carried a significant mortality and morbidity. Several approches and combinations of approaches have been used remove clival meningiomas. Transpetrosal operations have been shown to offer distinct advantages over traditional operations in approaching lesions of the clival area. The authors report a case of a huge clival meningioma that was totally removed using posterior transpetrosal translabyrinthine approach.
Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Meningioma* ; Mortality ; Skull Base

Clival chordoma is a rare intracranial neoplasm located in the clivus with bony extension and destruction. It is difficult to resect completely and generally has a poor prognosis. However, intradural clival chordomas have been reported with good surgical outcomes. We present a rare case of intradural chordoma and a review of the literature.
Brain Neoplasms ; Chordoma* ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Prognosis

Adult ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; pathology ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; pathology ; Female ; Granuloma ; pathology ; Humans ; Mastoid ; pathology

The authors report the experiences of transcondylar approaches for five meningiomas in the low clivus and foramen magnum. These tumors were removed via transcondylar approach. The results show that there was no operative mortality and minimal operative morbidity;one patient had temporary oropharyngeal dysfunction. This approach offers the best direct vision of the ventral structures to low clivus and foramen magnum without additional retraction or manipulation of the brain stem.
Brain Stem ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior* ; Foramen Magnum* ; Humans ; Meningioma* ; Mortality

A case of a mature, cystic teratoma in posterior cranial fossa presenting as a hyperdense lesion on precontrast computed tomography(CT) is reported. Although typical cysts of epidermoid, dermoid and teratoma appear on CT scans as areas of decreased attenuation, the cyst of this case showed increased density on precontrast CT scan. The underlying cause for this CT appearance is discussed after literature related to teratomas that are located in the midline posterior fossa are reviewed.
Cranial Fossa, Posterior* ; Dermoid Cyst ; Teratoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Chordomas are benign tumors that are thought to originate from remnants of notochord. They develop in the sacrococcygeal region but rarely form in the sellar region. Clival chordomas are benign tumors but because of their critical location, local invasion, recurrence, and occasional metastatic spread and their prognosis is similar to that of malignant tumors. The conventional transcranial approach is a treatment with high surgical morbidity. But transsphenoidal approach is a less invasive method with reduced surgical morbidity and complications. We report two cases of chordoma arising from the clivus treated by a transsphenoidal approach.
Chordoma* ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Notochord ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Sacrococcygeal Region

The technique and results of infratemporal fossa approach of jugular formamen meuroma and clivus chordoma are presented. The infratemporal fossa approach allowed radical removal of jugualr foramen neuroma and effective palliative removal of clivus chordoma. The basic features of infratemporal fossa approach are permanent anterior displacement of the facial nerve, subtotal petrosectomy and obliteration of the middle ear cleft.
Chordoma ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Ear, Middle ; Facial Nerve ; Neuroma ; Skull*

Most chordomas show extradural extension and bone destruction. A 32-year-old man presented with neck pain and progressive paraparesis. He had been diagnosed a clival chordoma and underwent an operation seven years ago. Radiological studies revealed that the tumor was recurred in a retroclival area and invaded into intradural region. We removed the tumor by two staged operations. After surgery, satisfactory resluts were achieved.
Adult ; Chordoma* ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Humans ; Neck Pain ; Paraparesis

Most chordomas show extradural extension and bone destruction. A 32-year-old man presented with neck pain and progressive paraparesis. He had been diagnosed a clival chordoma and underwent an operation seven years ago. Radiological studies revealed that the tumor was recurred in a retroclival area and invaded into intradural region. We removed the tumor by two staged operations. After surgery, satisfactory resluts were achieved.
Adult ; Chordoma* ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Humans ; Neck Pain ; Paraparesis