Novel Skull Base Collaborative Procedure

Cavernous malformations of the brain stem are rare lesions. They often begin developing in young adulthood and many continue to grow. There are no known triggers, and they are not thought to be congenital. What we do know is that surgical resection is the only proven treatment option. If untreated, patients have a slow progression of symptoms that usually begins with weakness on the left side and develops over the years to paralysis, leaving the patient wheelchair bound or worse. Hemorrhagic events are common.

The video shows a novel skull base procedure that was performed on a 40-year-old woman with cavernous malformations of the brain stem.