Same viewing angle, minimal craniotomy enlargement, extreme exposure increase: the extended supraorbital eyebrow approach.

The supraorbital eyebrow approach (SEa) has been commonly used as a straightforward route to reach lesions located in the anterior cranial fossa. The reduced surgical exposure provided by this approach limits its applicability. A modification of the SEa, the extended supraorbital eyebrow approach (X-SEa), allows use of the transylvian corridor to approach parasellar lesions, while maintaining most of the aesthetic advantages of the SEa. To quantify the surgical exposure and maneuverability provided by the X-SEa using a cadaveric study. Eleven heads were used to obtain all stereotactic measurements. Surgical exposure and maneuverability were measured by means of the area of exposure and the angles of attack along key representative points in the anterior circulation. The horizontal angle of attack at the middle cerebral artery provided by the X-SEa was larger than that provided by the SEa (32.6 vs 18.4°, p = 0.009). The X-SEa afforded broader vertical angles of attack at all targets in the anterior circulation (p < 0.05). The total area of exposure provided by the X-SEa was significantly larger than that provided by the SEa (1272 vs 978 ± 156 mm2, p = 0.003). The area of exposure in the ipsilateral trigon and in the midline quadrangle was also significantly larger for the X-SEa (paramedian 195 vs 121 mm2, p = 0.01; midline 1310 vs 778 mm2, p = 0.002). The X-SEa increases the exposure and surgical maneuverability along the anterior and middle cranial fossa when compared to the standard SEa.