An Illustrative Review of Common Modern Craniotomies

Abstract

Craniotomy, or a surgical opening into the skull, has been observed as early as Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. Early craniotomies carried great morbidity and mortality and standardized during the 20th century, improving surgical outcomes. The simultaneous evolution of medical imaging and stereotactic navigation systems has allowed imaging to correlate findings with surgical approaches, further optimizing patient safety. We review the history of craniotomy and provide an imaging review of the most common craniotomy approaches.