Modified transotic approach to the cerebellopontile angle.

A modification of the transotic approach to the cerebellopontile angle involves complete removal of the otic capsule bone, obliteration of the middle ear cleft, and removal of the posterior external auditory canal wall, while leaving the fallopian canal intact. The major advantage of this technique is that it allows more direct visualization of the most vulnerable portion of the facial nerve medial to the anterior wall of the internal auditory canal during acoustic tumor removal.