The role of endoscopy and radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas

Abstract

Cavernous sinus (CS) meningiomas represent a formidable neurosurgical pathology. The desired treatment depends on tumor size and extensions apart from the presenting clinical symptoms of the patient. The last few decades have shown a paradigm shift in the management towards a multimodal treatment. For patients with tumors presenting with a medial extension or when the meningioma occupies the antero-inferior portion of the CS, an endoscopic biopsy can be safely performed through the endonasal route. The boundaries of endoscopic endonasal approaches have been pushed during the last decade, and a direct access to the CS may now be performed. At the same time, an extensive bony decompression to decompress the optic canal and the pituitary gland may be performed. Autologous fat may be interposed between the residual tumor and radiosensitive structures to safely perform adjuvant radiation therapy. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the role of endoscopic surgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas along with the complementary role of radiotherapy. We describe the endoscopic anatomy and the surgical technique to safely perform the procedure and we review the surgical series reported in the literature dealing with the endoscopic approach for CS meningiomas with or without complementary radiation therapy. Endoscopic endonasal approaches have shown promising results in terms of improvement or stabilization of cranial neuropathy and hypopituitarism. Furthermore, the endoscopic approach may enhance the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery through the performance of an hypophysopexy and/or chiasmopexy.

Keywords

Cavernous sinus / meningioma / skull base / surgery / endoscopy / radiosurgery / radiotherapy

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