RACIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ACOUSTIC NEUROMA REMOVAL WITH HEARING PRESERVATION VIA THE RETROSIGMOID APPROACH

Racial differences in the size, shape and structure of the cranium exi st. This paper evaluates the importance of race in influencing the req uired sizes of craniotomies for gaining access to the lateral end of t he internal auditory meatus without breaching the labyrinth via the re trosigmoid approach. Fine-cut CT scans of the temporal bones (axial cu ts) of 34 Chinese and 34 Europeans were studied. The relevant distance s and angles of the posterior cranial fossa and temporal bone were mea sured and statistically significant differences between the two races were found. This led us to the conclusion that a larger craniotomy is required in Europeans than in Chinese. in recommending an optimal size for a retrosigmoid craniotomy to remove acoustic neuromas completely and preserve hearing, the racial factor must be considered.