Use of the carbon dioxide laser in the operative management of intracranial meningiomas: a report of twenty cases.

This study presents 20 cases of meningioma of various intracranial locations, all of which were removed with the carbon dioxide surgical laser system. The carbon dioxide laser is contrasted with other means of meningioma removal to emphasize the advantages of this new technology. These advantages include: (a) the ability to operate with smaller exposures, (b)reduced brain retraction, (c) a reduced amount of mechanical manipulation by vaporizing the tumor mass, (d) vaporization of the dural attachment after the removal of tumor, (e) improved operative precision, and (f) decreased intraoperative significant advancement in the ability to remove meningiomas that might prove difficult to extirpate by conventional means.