Research

Doctors and surgeons trained in nervous system conditions, also known as neurologists and neurosurgeons, are working to improve care for people who need a craniotomy. Researchers for the Brain Tumor Program study better ways to diagnose and treat all brain tumors. One area of study includes developing brain-mapping techniques for hard-to-reach tumors.

Some areas studied by Mayo Clinic researchers include:

  • The potential advantages of different types of craniotomies, including pterional keyhole craniotomy and supraorbital keyhole craniotomy.
  • Techniques used in awake brain mapping for better outcomes after a craniotomy.
  • The safety and potential risks of a craniotomy, along with the risk of delaying the procedure.

Publications

See a list of publications about craniotomy by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

Sept. 10, 2024
  1. Craniotomy. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/craniotomy. Accessed May 22, 2024.
  2. Treatments and side effects. American Brain Tumor Association. https://www.abta.org/about-brain-tumors/treatments-side-effects/. Accessed May 22, 2024.
  3. Surgery for adult brain and spinal cord tumors. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/brain-spinal-cord-tumors-adults/treating/surgery.html. Accessed May 22, 2024.
  4. Living as a brain or spinal cord tumor survivor. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/brain-spinal-cord-tumors-adults/after-treatment/follow-up.html. Accessed May 22, 2024.
  5. Vogelbaum MA, et al. Treatment for brain metastases: ASCO-SNO-ASTRO guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2022; doi:10.1200/JCO.21.02314.
  6. Brain cancer: Glioma. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=patients&id=5. Accessed May 22, 2024.
  7. Rao D, et al. An illustrative review of common modern craniotomies. Journal of Clinical Imaging Sciences. 2020; doi:10.25259/JCIS_176_2020.
  8. Ong V, et al. The pterional keyhole craniotomy approach: A historical perspective. World Neurosurgery. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2023.07.012.
  9. Florez-Perdomo WA, et al. Supraorbital vs pterional keyhole for anterior circulation aneurysms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World Neurosurgery: X. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.wnsx.2023.100177.
  10. Karadimas S, et al. Minimally invasive and outpatient aneurysm surgery: New concepts. Neurosurgery Clinics of North America. 2022; doi:10.1016/j.nec.2022.05.005.
  11. Robinow ZM, et al. Supraorbital keyhole craniotomy via eyebrow incision: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World Neurosurgery. 2022; doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.11.015.
  12. Xie T, et al. Endoscopic far-lateral supracerebellar infratentorial approach for petroclival region meningioma: Surgical technique and clinical experience. Operative Neurosurgery. 2022; doi:10.1227/ons.0000000000000126.
  13. Winn HR, ed. Awake craniotomy and intraoperative mapping. In: Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 23, 2023.
  14. Quinones-Hinojosa A, et al., eds. Schmidek & Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 23, 2024.
  15. Strowd RE. Approach to a patient with brain metastasis. In: Neuro-Oncology for the Clinical Neurologist. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 23, 2024.
  16. Jandial R. Core Techniques in Operative Neurosurgery. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 24, 2024.
  17. Functional MRI (fMRI). RadiologyInfo.org. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/fmribrain. Accessed May 24, 2024.
  18. Bertani R, et al. Minimally invasive craniotomies for lesions of the anterior and middle fossa. Neurosurgical Review. 2022; doi:10.1007/s10143-022-01850-z.
  19. Kulikov A, et al. Preoperative risk assessment before elective craniotomy: Are aspirin, arrhythmias, deep venous thromboses and hyperglycemia contraindications to surgery? World Neurosurgery. 2024; doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2024.03.018.
  20. Ekert JO, et al. Awake brain mapping paradigms for nondominant hemisphere gliomas. Neurosurgical Focus. 2024; doi:10.3171/2023.11.FOCUS23610.
  21. Perez-Vega C, et al. Safety and feasibility of a fast-track pathway for neurosurgical craniotomy patients: Bypassing the intensive care unit. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2023.09.002.
  22. Marenco-Hillembrand L, et al. Unilateral supraorbital keyhole craniotomy avoiding the frontal sinus for large and giant olfactory-groove meningiomas: A case series. World Neurosurgery. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2022.11.015.
  23. Nimmagadda R. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. June 4, 2024.