Microsurgical treatment of infratentorial malformations

The brain stem has long lost the designation of "no-man's land." Armed with a detailed knowledge of skull base and parenchymal neuroanatomy, coupled w ith the advances in intraoperative mapping and monitoring, most intrinsic b rain stem cavernous malformations can be resected microsurgically. Success continues to depend on proper patient selection optimal timing, thorough pl anning, meticulous technique, and completeness of the resection.