Laser Surgery of Basal, Orbital and Ventricular Meningiomas which are Difficult to Extirpate by Conventional Methods

Toshiaki TAKIZAWA; Takashi YAMAZAKI; Noriko MIURA; Masahisa MATSUMOTO; Yasuaki TANAKA; Kazuo TAKEUCHI; Yoshitaka NAKATA; Osamu TOGASHI; Masakatsu NAGAI; Toru ARIGA; Toshihiko NISHIMURA; Hiroshi MIZUTANI; Keiji SANO

doi:10.2176/nmc.20.729

Toshiaki TAKIZAWA, Takashi YAMAZAKI, Noriko MIURA, Masahisa MATSUMOTO, Yasuaki TANAKA, Kazuo TAKEUCHI, Yoshitaka NAKATA, Osamu TOGASHI, Masakatsu NAGAI, Toru ARIGA, Toshihiko NISHIMURA, Hiroshi MIZUTANI, Keiji SANO

Author information

Toshiaki TAKIZAWA
Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of the Japanese National Railtivays
Takashi YAMAZAKI
Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of the Japanese National Railtivays
Noriko MIURA
Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of the Japanese National Railtivays
Masahisa MATSUMOTO
Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of the Japanese National Railtivays
Yasuaki TANAKA
Department of Neurosurgery, Kyorin University
Kazuo TAKEUCHI
Department of Neurosurgery, Kyorin University
Yoshitaka NAKATA
Department of Neurosurgery, Tsukuba University
Osamu TOGASHI
Department of Neurosurgery, Dokkyo University
Masakatsu NAGAI
Department of Neurosurgery, Dokkyo University
Toru ARIGA
Department of Neurosurgery, Fuchu Metropolitan Hospital
Toshihiko NISHIMURA
Department of Neurosurgery, Fuchu Metropolitan Hospital
Hiroshi MIZUTANI
Department of Neurosurgery, Fuchu Metropolitan Hospital
Keiji SANO
Department of Neurosurgery, Fuculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo

Keywords: CO₂ laser scalpel, laser surgery, vaporization, meningioma, non-contact removal, bloodless surgery

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1980 Volume 20 Issue 7 Pages 729-737

DOI https://doi.org/10.2176/nmc.20.729

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Abstract

The authors discuss laser surgery of meningiomas which are difficult or impossible to remove by conventional methods. The CO₂ laser surgical unit (scalpel), Medilaser-S, Model MEL-442, was originally developed for neurosurgery by Takizawa and his team. One of the conspicuous advantages of the CO₂ laser scalpel is its ability to remove highly vascularized tumors with minimum bleeding. Another advantage is that it enables a surgeon to remove a firm tumor precisely without using mechanical force. The cases included in this paper are highly vascularized sphenoid ridge meningioma, giant falx meningioma, firm tuberculum sellae meningioma, tentorial meningioma, ventricular meningioma and orbital meningioma. Disadvantages of the CO₂ laser scalpel and methods to offset them are also discussed. These disadvantages may be surmounted by the combined use of the electrosurgical unit, cryosurgical unit, CUSA system, etc. The CO₂ laser scalpel is not ideal, but it is no doubt a break through in surgery of brain tumors which are difficult to remove by conventional methods.

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