The Cavernous Sinus

The management of vascular and tumorous lesions of the parasellar region still remains one of the most demanding tasks in neurosurgery. Pioneer anatomical studies of the parasellar region done by Taptas, and the daring direct operative approach introduced by Parkinson promoted the development of modern neuroradiological intervention procedures and further refinement of neurosurgical techniques. Today, it is hard to imagine a successful management of vascular pathologies of this region without the complementary use of the two techniques. The situation in the treatment of parasellar tumors is similar. Modern neuroradiological diagnostic procedures and neurophysiological tests employed prior to surgery can supply valuable data which are indispensable for the surgeon who wishes to devise optimal treatment strategies for each case separately. Preoperative embolization of the tumor vessels and preoperative monitoring of the function of cranial nerves III through VI enable the surgeon to plan a more radical excision and provide for greater safety of the procedure. This stimulating book is the first comprehensive and up-to-date text dealing with the cavernous sinus and addresses anyone who is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of lesions of the skull base.