OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect and safety of the postauricular infratemporal fossa approach (ITFA) in resecting jugular foramen lesions.
METHODS: All 25 patients undergoing microsurgery via postauricular ITFA from March 2015 to May 2023 in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University were included. The clinical and radiological data were retrospectively analyzed. Regular follow-up was carried out.
RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 50.5±8.9 years, and 14 of them were female and 11 were male. Among the cases, lower cranial nerve schwannoma accounted for 60 % (15/25) of all tumors, jugular foramen paraganglioma accounted for 20 % (5/25), and the remaining 20 % included meningioma, chondrosarcoma, plasmacytoma, and salivary gland tumors. Total tumor resection was performed in 18 cases, subtotal tumor resection in 7 cases and partial resection in 1 case. Seven patients underwent gamma knife radiotherapy after surgery. Transient lower cranial nerve dysfunction occurred in 8 patients, and permanent lower cranial nerve dysfunction occurred in 2 patients after surgery. One patient developed facial paralysis, and one patient presented hearing loss.
CONCLUSIONS: The postauricular ITFA achieved a relatively high total tumor resection rate and a lower incidence of neurological functional disorders. It is an alternative and suitable surgical approach for resecting jugular foramen lesions. Maximizing the preservation of neurological function is preferred, especially when radical resection cannot be achieved. Stereotactic radiotherapy could be used for residual tumors.

BACKGROUND: Samii Type-D jugular foramen schwannomas (JFSs) are the most challenging for neurosurgeons because of anatomical complexity. Various neurosurgical approaches have been described to gain access to JF.
METHODS: We present a female with incidental diagnosis of the Type-D JFS. Complete radical resection was achieved via the carotid triangle approach without any bony structure removal. And the patient was discharged asymptomatic and without new-developed neurological deficits.
CONCLUSIONS: The carotid triangle is a secure and appropriate approach for some cases of selected Type-D JFSs. However, the specific indications of this approach should be further explored and investigated.

Objective:To summarize the results of different facial nerve management modalities applied to tumor resection in the jugular foramen region. Methods:The clinical data of 54 patients with tumors in the jugular foramen region who underwent surgery from January 2015 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed: 18 males and 36 females; Age ranges from 21 to 67 years, with an average age of 44.4 years; and median follow-up time: 12 months. The House-Brackmann（HB） grading system was applied to assess the patients\' facial nerve function before surgery, 1-2 weeks after surgery and at the final follow-up （HBⅠ-Ⅱ grade for good function）: 42 cases with preoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅱ; partial facial nerve transposition（9 cases）, complete facial nerve transposition（28 cases）, and facial nerve excision and re-construction（17 cases） were used, respectively（stage Ⅰor Ⅱ）. Relevant factors affecting postoperative facial nerve function were analyzed. Results:Postoperative pathology confirmed 39 cases of paraganglioma, 9 cases of nerve sheath tumor, 3 cases of meningioma, and 1 case each of fibromucinous sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and intravascular myofibroma. Facial nerve function after partial facial nerve transposition was HB grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in 89%（8/9）; after complete facial nerve transposition was HB grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in 86%（24/28） in 28 cases; after facial nerve severance and reconstruction was HB grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in 2/7（Stage Ⅰ） and 0/3（Stage Ⅱ）, respectively. Tumor size and surgical approach were correlated with postoperative facial nerve function in patients with facial nerve transposition（P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in facial nerve function after complete and partial facial nerve transposition（P>0.05）. Conclusion:Intraoperative stretching of the facial nerve may be an important factor affecting facial nerve function during surgical treatment of tumors in the jugular venous foramen region; for patients with facial nerve dissection, facial nerve reconstruction should be adopted according to the situation, aiming at the recovery of facial nerve function.
目的：总结不同面神经处理方式应用于颈静脉孔区肿瘤切除术的效果。 方法：回顾分析2015年1月至2023年3月接受手术的54例颈静脉孔区肿瘤患者的临床资料，其中男18例，女36例；年龄21～67岁，平均44.4岁；随访时间中位数12个月。应用House-Brackmann（HB）分级系统评估患者术前、术后1～2周和末次随访的面神经功能（HBⅠ～Ⅱ级为功能良好）：术前HBⅠ～Ⅱ级42例；分别采用面神经部分移位术（9例）、面神经完全移位术（28例）、面神经切断再重建术（17例）（Ⅰ期或Ⅱ期）。分析影响术后面神经功能的相关因素。 结果：术后病理证实副神经节瘤39例，神经鞘瘤9例，3例脑膜瘤，纤维黏液样肉瘤、软骨肉瘤、血管内肌纤维瘤各1例。面神经部分移位术后面神经功能HBⅠ～Ⅱ级89%（8/9）；面神经完全移位术后HBⅠ～Ⅱ级86%（24/28）28例；面神经切断再重建术后HBⅠ～Ⅱ级分别为2/7（Ⅰ期）和0/3（Ⅱ期）。面神经移位患者中肿瘤的大小及手术方式与术后面神经功能相关（P<0.05）。面神经完全移位术和部分移位术后面神经功能差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论：术中对面神经的牵拉可能是影响颈静脉孔区肿瘤外科治疗过程中面神经功能的重要因素；对于面神经离断的患者，应根据情况采取相应的面神经重建方式，争取面神经功能的恢复。.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the feasibility of an endoscopic endonasal combined transoral medial approach for treating lesions in the nasopharynx, parapharyngeal space (PPS), and jugular foramen.
METHODS: Anatomical and imaging information of six patients who underwent surgery via this approach were reviewed and analyzed.
RESULTS: The feasibility and advantages of the endoscopic endonasal combined transoral medial approach, which uses an inside-to-outside medial surgical corridor, were identified. Total resection was achieved in 3 cases with benign tumors. Safe resection margins were obtained in 2 cases with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Pathological biopsy of NPC lesion between the Eustachian tube and arterial sheath was achieved. The internal carotid artery (ICA) was accurately located and protected in all cases and no complications occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: Lesions in the nasopharynx, PPS, and jugular foramen can be directly assessed via this approach. The ICA can be well identified during the surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Jugular foramen schwannomas (JFSs) are rarely seen, benign tumors with slow growth. Today, management options for JFSs include observation, surgery, and radiation. However, the optimal treatment strategy remains controversial. Stereotactic radiosurgery serves as a minimally invasive alternative or adjuvant therapeutic regimen of microsurgery. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is suitable for patients with JFS who have small- and medium-sized tumors and normal cranial nerve (CN) function. Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) offers a potential radiobiological advantage and may result in better preservation of normal structures compared to single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery. The aim of the article was to review the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with JFS who were treated using HSRT.
METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed 74 patients with JFS who received HSRT between January 2009 and January 2020 in the authors\' center. Among them, 53 patients were newly diagnosed with JFS, 19 patients had a previous history of microsurgical resection, and the other 2 patients underwent CyberKnife because of tumor recurrence after Gamma Knife radiosurgery. A total of 73 patients had preexisting CN symptoms and signs. The median tumor volume was 14.8 cm3 (range 0.5-41.2 cm3), and most of them (70.3%) were ≥ 10 cm3. The radiation dose regimen was prescribed depending on the tumor size, and more fractions were used in larger tumors. The median margin doses prescribed were 18.2 Gy/2 fractions, 21.0 Gy/3 fractions, and 21.6 Gy/4 fractions.
RESULTS: The median follow-up was 103 months (range 18-158 months). After treatment, 42 (56.8%) patients had tumor regression, 27 (36.5%) patients had stable tumors, and 5 (6.8%) experienced tumor progression. Among them, MRI revealed that 1 patient had a complete response. Three patients received surgery at a median of 25 months because of tumor progression. One patient underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion for hydrocephalus that developed after HSRT independent of tumor progression. The 5-year progression-free survival rate was 93.2%. Preexisting cranial neuropathies improved in 46 patients, remained stable in 14, and worsened in 14.
CONCLUSIONS: HSRT proved to be a safe and effective primary or adjuvant treatment strategy for JFSs, although 14 patients (18.9%) experienced some degree of delayed symptomatic deterioration posttreatment. This therapeutic option was demonstrated to provide both excellent tumor control and improvement in CN function.

Objective: To explore the diagnosis, surgical management and outcome of jugular foramen chondrosarcoma (CSA). Methods: Fifteen patients with jugular foramen CSA hospitalized in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of Chinese PLA General Hospital from December 2002 to February 2020 were retrospectively collected,of whom 2 were male and 13 were female, aging from 22 to 61 years old. The clinical symptoms and signs, imaging features, differential diagnosis, surgical approaches, function of facial nerve and cranial nerves IX to XII, and surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Patients with jugular foramen CSA mainly presented with facial paralysis, hearing loss, hoarseness, cough, tinnitus and local mass. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) could provide important information for diagnosis. CT showed irregular destruction on bone margin of the jugular foramen. MR demonstrated iso or hypointense on T1WI, hyperintense on T2WI and heterogeneous contrast-enhancement. Surgical approaches were chosen upon the sizes and scopes of the tumors. Inferior temporal fossa A approach was adopted in 12 cases, inferior temporal fossa B approach in 2 cases and mastoid combined parotid approach in 1 case. Five patients with facial nerve involved received great auricular nerve graft. The House Brackmann (H-B) grading scale was used to evaluate the facial nerve function. Preoperative facial nerve function ranked grade Ⅴ in 4 cases and grade Ⅵ in 1 case. Postoperative facial nerve function improved to grade Ⅲ in 2 cases and grade Ⅵ in 3 cases. Five patients presented with cranial nerves Ⅸ and Ⅹ palsies. Hoarseness and cough of 2 cases improved after operation, while the other 3 cases did not. All the patients were diagnosed CSA by histopathology and immunohistochemistry, with immunohistochemical staining showing vimentin and S-100 positive, but cytokeratin negative in tumor cells. All patients survived during 28 to 234 months\' follow-up. Two patients suffered from tumor recurrence 7 years after surgery and received revision surgery. No complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and intracranial infection occurred after operation. Conclusions: Jugular foramen CSA lacks characteristic symptoms or signs. Imaging is helpful to differential diagnosis. Surgery is the primary treatment of jugular foramen CSA. Patients with facial paralysis should receive surgery in time as to restore the facial nerve. Long-term follow-up is necessary after surgery in case of recurrence.
目的： 总结分析颈静脉孔区软骨肉瘤的诊断要点、手术方法及治疗效果。 方法： 回顾分析2002年12月至2020年2月在解放军总医院耳鼻咽喉头颈外科接受手术治疗的15例颈静脉孔区软骨肉瘤患者的临床资料，其中男性2例、女性13例，年龄22~61岁。总结分析患者的临床表现、影像学特点、诊断要点、手术入路、面神经及后组颅神经功能、疗效及复发等。 结果： 颈静脉孔区软骨肉瘤患者主要症状和体征包括面神经麻痹、听力下降、声音嘶哑、呛咳、耳鸣、局部包块等。影像学检查是术前诊断和鉴别诊断的重要依据：CT表现为颈静脉孔区骨质边缘不规则破坏；颅脑MRI表现为颈静脉孔区T1WI等或低信号、T2WI高信号、增强后不均匀强化的病变。根据病变范围选择手术入路，15例患者中颞下窝A入路12例，颞下窝B入路2例，乳突及颈部联合入路1例。5例面神经严重受侵患者在手术切除肿瘤的同时行耳大神经移植桥接术重建面神经功能，术前面神经功能House-Brackmann（H-B）分级Ⅴ级4例、Ⅵ级1例，术后面神经功能恢复至Ⅲ级2例、Ⅳ级3例。术前Ⅸ、Ⅹ脑神经功能障碍者5例，术后有2例恢复功能，3例无改善。所有病例均经术后病理及免疫组化检查（波形蛋白及S-100蛋白染色阳性、细胞角蛋白染色阴性）确诊为软骨肉瘤。术后未发生脑脊液漏、颅内感染等并发症。随访28~234个月，15例患者均存活，其中2例复发，复发时间均为术后7年，给予再次手术切除。 结论： 颈静脉孔区软骨肉瘤的症状和体征缺乏特异性，其影像学特点有助于鉴别诊断，最终确诊依靠病理检查。外科手术是首选的治疗方法，伴有面神经麻痹患者应尽早手术切除肿瘤并积极修复面神经。软骨肉瘤术后有复发风险，患者应接受长期随访。.

Tumors involving the jugular foramen region are challenging for surgical resection. With the development of endoscope in the past decade, surgical approaches assisted by endoscope have been widely emerged in the treatment of skull base tumors.
Herein, we report a case of jugular foramen schwannoma (Samii type B). Surgical resection was applied via a suboccipital retrosigmoidal craniotomy using surgical microscope assisted by endoscope. Gross total resection was achieved. And the patient recovered without obvious neurological deficits.
Samii type B schwannomas involving the jugular foramen is approachable by endoscope-assisted surgery.

Objective: To describe a technique of endoscopic transoral approach nasopharyngectomy for petroclival and jugular foramen nasopharyngeal carcinoma, based on anatomic studies and surgeries. Methods: Three dry human skulls and five fresh human cadaver heads were used for anatomic study of a endoscopic transoral approach to expose petroclival and jugular foramen. The anatomical landmarks and the extent of exposure were recorded. Six clinical cases who were treated in Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University from June 2020 to April 2022 were used to illustrate the technique and feasibility of this approach and to assess its indications and advantages, including 3 males and 3 females, aged 42 to 69 years old. Descriptive analysis was used in this research. Results: On the basis of the preservation of the internal pterygoid muscle and the external pterygoid muscle, this approach could fully expose the parapharyngeal, petrosal and paraclival segment internal carotid arteries, and safely deal with the lesions of jugular foramen and petroclival region. The 6 patients in our study tolerated the procedure well. Postoperative enhanced MRI showed complete resection of the tumor and no postoperative masticatory dysfunction. Conclusion: Endoscopic transoral approach is a safe, minimally invasive and effective surgical treatment for petroclival and jugular foramen recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
目的： 探索内镜经口入路的解剖要点及其在岩斜区和颈静脉孔区复发性鼻咽癌（nasopharyngeal carcinoma，NPC）手术中的应用。 方法： 使用3个干性头颅骨性标本和5个新鲜冰冻尸头标本，采用经口入路显露岩斜区和颈静脉孔区，记录重要解剖标志及显露范围，详细介绍该入路的手术方法和技巧。回顾性分析于2020年6月至2022年4月就诊于复旦大学附属眼耳鼻喉科医院的复发性NPC患者6例，男女比例1∶1，年龄42~69岁，所有患者均使用该入路行岩斜区和颈静脉孔区复发性NPC切除术。采用描述性方法进行分析。 结果： 解剖研究显示，内镜经口入路在保留翼内肌和翼外肌的基础上，可显露咽旁段、岩骨段和斜坡旁段颈内动脉，可处理颈静脉孔区和岩斜区的病变。临床实践显示，6例患者均成功行内镜经口入路NPC切除术，术后增强MRI见肿瘤完整切除，患者无咀嚼功能障碍。 结论： 内镜经口入路用于岩斜区和颈静脉孔区复发性NPC切除术，具有安全、微创、可靠的特点，值得临床推广。.

OBJECTIVE: Differentiating between acquired stenosis (pathologic) and anatomical slenderness (physiologic) of internal jugular vein (IJV) remain ambiguous. Herein, we aimed to compare the similarities and differences between the two entities.
METHODS: Patients who underwent head and neck computer tomography (CT) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were enrolled in this case-control study from January 2016 through October 2021.
RESULTS: 1487 eligible patients entered final analysis totally. 803 patients had bilateral IJVs imaging without IJV stenosis-related symptoms and presented in three ways: right IJV slenderness (10.5%, n = 85), left IJV slenderness (48.4%, n = 388), and symmetric IJVs (41.1%, n = 330). In patients with asymmetric IJVs, their bilateral jugular foramina were also asymmetric. All involved asymmetric IJVs presented as slenderness without surrounding abnormal collaterals and credible cloudy-like white matter hyper-intensity (WMH). Their cerebral arterial perfusion statuses on brain MR-PWI maps were normal. In contrast, the major patients with IJV stenosis presented with signs and symptoms such as headaches, head noise, etc. In CE-MRV maps, local stenosis of the IJV was surrounded by abnormal venous collaterals in contrast to the lack of abnormal venous collaterals for patients with IJV slenderness. And in CTV maps, the caliber of jugular foramina was mismatched with the transverse diameter of IJV. Moreover, in MRI maps of most of these patients, a cloudy-like WMHs were distributed symmetrically in bilateral periventricular and/or centrum semi vales. These patients also had symmetrical cerebral arterial hypo-perfusion. Seven patients underwent stenting of the IJV stenosis correction, their WMHs attenuated or disappeared subsequently.
CONCLUSIONS: Imaging features in addition to clinical symptoms can be used to differentiate between physiologic IJV slenderness and pathologic IJV stenosis. Notable imagine-defining features for IJV stenosis include local stenosis surrounded by abnormal venous collaterals, cloudy-like WMHs, and mismatch between the transverse diameter of IJV and the caliber of the jugular foramina.

颈静脉孔区副神经节瘤（即颈静脉球瘤）起源于颈静脉球血管外膜的神经嵴细胞，其起病隐匿，临床症状不典型，早期易被忽视。病变可累及中耳、外耳道、面神经、颈静脉球、后组颅神经、颈内动脉甚至颅内，并引起相应临床症状。影像学检查以及SDHx相关基因检测对疾病的诊断和治疗方案的确立至关重要。处理策略包括随访观察、手术切除及立体定向放射治疗。治疗方案的制定需根据患者年龄、病变范围、全身情况及患者意愿等多方面综合考虑，制定个体化治疗方案，其手术治疗是耳鼻咽喉头颈外科领域最具挑战性手术之一。.