[Treatment of large tumors of the cerebellopontile angle using a combined transtentorial and translabyrinthine approach to the middle cranial fossa].

The Authors have reported on 7 patients with large tumors (larger than 4 cm) of the cerebello-pontine angle operated-on utilizing a subtemporal-transtentorial-translabyrinthine-trans-occipital approach. The technique, the results and complications of this approach to the cerebello-pontine angle are discussed. The advantages are the delineation of the cranial nerves and of the ventrolateral brainstem with its blood supply. This approach has been associated with a low morbidity and no operative mortality in 5 cases of acoustic nerve tumor and 2 meningiomas.