✓ Ten cases of meningioma of the pineal region were histologically verified at a single institution during an 8-year period. These represented 0.3% of 3061 intracranial meningiomas, as well as 6.2% of 164 pineal tumors. Patients were predominantly women. Symptoms and signs of increased intracranial pressure were most common, whereas Parinaud's syndrome was observed in only one case. Computerized tomography (CT) was the main diagnostic test used in the present series. It usually revealed a hyperdense mass with high-intensity contrast enhancement and a calcified mass eccentrically located at the periphery, which returned to its central location postsurgically and was likely to represent a calcified pineal gland. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in the more recent cases and confirmed the suspicion raised by CT of a meningioma with a calcified mass at its periphery. Surgery was performed using an occipital transtentorial microsurgical approach with the patient placed in the semisitting position. Gross-total tumor removal was achieved in all cases, although this required sacrifice of the vein of Galen in six patients. Venous occlusion was performed only after adequate intraoperative verification of functional occlusion and blood flow diversion from the galenic system and had no consequences in any case but one. This latter patient had an infiltrative meningioma that was removed at the expense of intraoperative sacrifice of the two internal cerebral veins, as well as unavoidable trauma to the region of the quadrigeminal plate. All the remaining patients improved postsurgery, and only one had a permanent visual field deficit as a result of the surgical approach. Pineal meningiomas represent a rare subgroup of pineal tumors that can be treated surgically with reasonably good results. Sacrifice of major basal veins may be required to achieve radical tumor removal and can be tolerated by the patient provided that functional occlusion of the galenic system, as indicated by preoperative angiography, is verified during surgery.

The surgical anatomy of the temporal branch of the facial nerve was studied bilaterally in 10 embalmed cadaveric heads. Particular attention was paid to the relationships between the temporal branch, the galeal-fascial layers, and the fat pads of the temporal-zygomatic region. The temporal branch of the facial nerve pierces the parotidomasseteric fascia below the zygomatic arch. This branch travels first in the subcutaneous tissue and then, above the zygomatic arch, in the subgaleal space. The temporal branch divides into an anterior, a middle (frontal), and a posterior ramus soon after it pierces the parotid fascia. The course of the terminal twigs of the temporal branch of the facial nerve in the subgaleal space is extremely variable, with their location being at times posterior to the anterior one-fourth of the temporalis muscle. Occasionally, a twig for the frontalis muscle may run in between the two layers of the superficial temporal fascia. Because of these findings (anteroposterior variability of temporal branch twigs and recurrent intrafascial twig), Yasargil's interfascial dissection may at times fail. A combined frontotemporal scalp/superficial temporal fascia dissection is anatomically suited to preserve the temporal branch of the facial nerve.

Object. The results of surgical treatment of epidermoid cysts of the pineal region in six cases are presented.Methods. Six patients with pineal epidermoid cysts underwent surgery at the Institute of Neurosurgery “N. N. Burdenko,” in Moscow, during the period 1976 to 1995. The duration of the patients' preadmission clinical history varied from 6 months to 2 years (average 1.4 years). Headache, diplopia, and vertigo were the most frequently occurring symptoms. Neurological examination demonstrated papilledema, impaired pupillary reaction, ataxia, and long-pathways deficit; Parinaud's syndrome was found in only one case. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging constituted the primary diagnostic tools. Surgery was performed using either an infratentorial—supracerebellar approach (two cases) or an occipital—transtentorial approach (four cases).Conclusions. Surgical results can be excellent if a removal, as extensive as possible, is performed using either the supracerebellar or occipital—transtentorial approach.