Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41762302›Full record

ArticleActa neurochirurgica2026

Anatomical insights into the peri-trigeminal zone via transorbital, transclival, and retrosigmoid routes: a comparative cadaveric study with surgical implications.

Bruno Vernile, Marianna Di Costanzo, Alejandra Mosteiro, Marta Codes, Gloria Cabrera, Andrès Apolinar, Francesco Sala, Barbara Masotto, Joaquim Enseñat, Alberto Di Somma and 1 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Acta neurochirurgica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Bruno VernileUniversity of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Marianna Di CostanzoUniversity of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Alejandra MosteiroInstitut Clínic de Neurociències (ICN), Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Marta CodesInstitut Clínic de Neurociències (ICN), Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Gloria CabreraInstitut Clínic de Neurociències (ICN), Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Andrès ApolinarInstitut Clínic de Neurociències (ICN), Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Francesco SalaUniversity of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Barbara MasottoNeurosurgery Department, Posterior Cranial Fossa Unit, University Hospital of Verona, Borgo Trento, Verona, Italy.
Joaquim EnseñatDepartament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Medicoquirúrgiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de La Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Alberto Di SommaDepartament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Medicoquirúrgiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de La Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain. adisomma@clinic.cat.
Alberto Prats GalinoDepartament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Medicoquirúrgiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de La Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSurgical access to brainstem (BS) lesions requires small neurotomies in between a dense and complex neural fiber network. Access is gained on the BS surface closest to the lesion to minimize the intraparenchymal trajectory and reduce the risk of neurological injury. The concept of safe-entry zones guides the selection of the most favorable entry point to reduce these risks. Several endoscopic approaches have been validated as safe and effective for accessing the peritrigeminal zone (PTZ); however, each one is limited by anatomical constraints due to adjacent osteo-vascular structures, which restrict the surgical corridor. To evaluate the anatomical advantages and limitations of accessing the PTZ via the endonasal transclival approach (ETTA), retrosigmoid approach (RS), and endoscopic transorbital approach (ETOA).

methodsThe ETTA, RS, and ETOA approaches were performed on five human cadaveric specimens (25 approaches). Before dissection, all specimens underwent high-field magnetic resonance imaging, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) sequences for tractography reconstruction. An anatomical assessment was then conducted to verify accessibility to the PTZ. The potential surgical trajectory, approach length, and surgical view's angle were measured and compared across the three approaches.

resultsAll approaches allowed access to the PTZ; however, each one exhibited structural limitations affecting surgical maneuverability. Comparative anatomical and radiological analysis highlighted procedural insights to guide the selection of the most appropriate surgical corridor based on lesion morphology. The RS approach, the shortest one, and the ETTA provided a near-tangential visualization of the PTZ, whereas the ETOA offered a more perpendicular surgical view.

conclusionsA thorough understanding of the anatomical and technical nuances of the three approaches to the PTZ described in this study can support the selection of the most appropriate surgical route for pontine lesions. Comparative data suggest that the orientation of the lesion's major axis within the pons is a key criterion in determining the optimal surgical approach.

Indexed as

Brain StemNeuroendoscopyNeurosurgical ProceduresOrbitCadaverHumansBrainstemEndoscopicPeritrigeminal zoneSkull baseTransorbital

Identifiers

PMID41762302
PMCPMC12950089

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.