Three-quarter prone approach to the pineal-tentorial region.

A three-quarter prone, operative approach to the pineal region is described: the three-quarter prone, operated-side-down position. This approach avoids the disadvantages of the approaches from other directions to this region and provides a comfortable position for the surgeon and assistant, minimal retraction of the parietal-occipital lobe, and access to the third ventricle, pineal region, midbrain, and superior vermis.