To explore the feasibility and clinical efficacy of resection of jugular foramen schwannomas via anterolateral approach.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 15 patients with jugular foramen schwannomas admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from January 2018 to July 2022. Three patients had Samii type B, 7 had type C and 5 had type D. Resection of the schwannomas was performed via anterolateral approach. After surgery, regular follow-up was performed through outpatient review, telephone, or WeChat to evaluate tumor progression and neurological functions.

Adequate surgical exposure was obtained in all 15 patients. Total resection was obtained in 14 patients and subtotal resection in 1 patient. Posterior cranial nerve palsy was worsened in 1 patient and new-onset facial paralysis (House-Brackmann grading Ⅲ) was noted in 1 patient, without cerebrospinal fluid leakage, subcutaneous effusion or death. Choking and cough during drinking water, and dysphagia disappeared or relieved 3 months after surgery in patients with aggravated posterior cranial nerve palsy, but no significant recovery from hoarseness was noted 6 months after surgery. A patient with new-onset facial paralysis improved to House-Brackmann grading I 3 months after surgery. Up to the last follow-up, no tumor recurrence was observed in 15 patients.

Resection via anterolateral approach is effective in jugular foramen schwannomas for its adequate surgical exposure, high total resection rate, and low postoperative complications.

Schwannoma; Jugular foramen; Anterolateral approach