Introduction: Surgery of the central skull base

Abstract

With his anatomical studies of the parasellar space, the so-called cavernous sinus (CS), Taptas opened Pandora's box more than 60 years ago. Parkinson continued the anatomical studies, and operated on vascular lesions in the CS with the help of extracorporeal circulation. The need for endovascular treatment of intracavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms, as well as carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs), was obvious. Serbinenko started with the endovascular treatment of CCFs and ICA aneurysms using a balloon. At nearly the same time, Hakuba undertook surgical treatment of tumorous lesions in the region. Glascock studied the ICA in relation to the petrous bone, and with his studies of the ICA and this artery's relationship to the other structures, it became clear that further understanding of the pathological entities in the parasellar space hinged on additional microanatomical studies.