Microsurgery for cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst presenting with trigeminal neuralgia

Objective To summarize clinical diagnosis and microsurgical treatment method of cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst presenting with trigeminal neuralgia. Methods Thirtyseven cases of cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst presenting with trigeminal neuralgia treated by microneurosurgery procedure were analyzed retrospectively. Results Complete resection was achieved in 31 cases, and subtotal was achieved in 6 cases, with no operative mortality. Postoperatively, the symptom of trigeminal neuralgia disappeared in 28 cases, was eased obviously in 6 cases, and was eased in 3 cases. The symptom of dizziness in all 6 cases vanished, and hearing in 3 cases was improved. Three cases appeared cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and 4 cases appeared oral herpes. Symptom in 1 case aggravated after 6 months, and oral medicine was ineffective. The pain symptom disappeared after reoperation. Conclusions The suboccipital retrosigmoid approach microneurosurgery is the principal treatment method for cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst presenting with trigeminal neuralgia. Microsurgical technique combined with surgical skill is the guarantee for increasing total removal rate of tumors and decreasing complications. Key words: Trigeminal neuralgia; Epidermal cyst; Cerebellopontine angle