Approach Map

Use this as the corridor-first index: start with the target region, open the approach chapter for setup and anatomy, then jump to representative pathology guides for case-specific decisions.

Cranial Convexity, Sylvian, and Anterior Skull Base

Corridor	Best-fit targets	Approach chapter	Representative case guides
Pterional / frontotemporal	MCA/ICA bifurcation/PComA aneurysms, sphenoid wing, insula, parasellar lesions	Pterional craniotomy	MCA aneurysm, PComA aneurysm, Sphenoid wing meningioma, Insular glioma
Orbitozygomatic / FTOZ	High basilar apex, parasellar/clinoidal, cavernous sinus, wide skull-base exposure	Orbitozygomatic craniotomy	Basilar apex aneurysm, Tuberculum sellae meningioma, Craniopharyngioma
Supraorbital eyebrow	Selected anterior fossa, parasellar, and suprasellar lesions with favorable angle	Supraorbital keyhole craniotomy	Tuberculum sellae meningioma, Olfactory groove meningioma
Bifrontal / subfrontal	Midline anterior fossa, olfactory groove, bifrontal exposure	Bifrontal craniotomy	Olfactory groove meningioma, Craniopharyngioma
Anterior interhemispheric / transcallosal	AComA, colloid cyst, callosal or third-ventricular lesions	Anterior interhemispheric approach	AComA aneurysm, Colloid cyst

Endonasal, Midline Skull Base, and Sellar

Corridor	Best-fit targets	Approach chapter	Representative case guides
Endoscopic endonasal / transsphenoidal	Pituitary, tuberculum/planum, clival, selected craniopharyngioma	Endoscopic endonasal approach	Pituitary adenoma, Clival chordoma, Craniopharyngioma
Subtemporal / Kawase	Upper clivus, petroclival, tentorial incisura, basilar apex variants	Subtemporal craniotomy	Petroclival meningioma, Basilar apex aneurysm
Presigmoid / petrosal	Petroclival and CPA lesions needing anterior brainstem access	Presigmoid / petrosal approach	Petroclival meningioma, Jugular foramen tumor
Far lateral / transcondylar	Foramen magnum, ventral craniocervical junction, VA/PICA region	Far-lateral craniotomy	Foramen magnum meningioma, Occipitocervical fusion

Posterior Fossa and Pineal

Corridor	Best-fit targets	Approach chapter	Representative case guides
Retrosigmoid / retromastoid	CPA, trigeminal/vestibulocochlear/facial nerve, MVD, vestibular schwannoma	Retrosigmoid craniotomy	Vestibular schwannoma, MVD trigeminal neuralgia, MVD hemifacial spasm
Midline suboccipital	Cerebellar, fourth ventricle, Chiari, posterior fossa decompression	Midline suboccipital craniotomy	Posterior fossa tumor, Chiari decompression, Pediatric posterior fossa tumor
Telovelar	Fourth ventricle without vermian splitting	Telovelar approach	Posterior fossa tumor, Pediatric posterior fossa tumor
Supracerebellar infratentorial	Pineal region, posterior third ventricle, tectal lesions	Supracerebellar infratentorial approach	Pineal region tumor

Spine and Peripheral Corridors

Corridor	Best-fit targets	Approach chapter	Representative case guides
Anterior cervical / Smith-Robinson	Disc, osteophyte, corpectomy, cervical reconstruction	Anterior cervical approach	ACDF, Cervical disc arthroplasty
Posterior cervical	Laminectomy/fusion, laminoplasty, foraminotomy, posterior trauma	Posterior cervical approach	Posterior cervical laminectomy/fusion, Cervical laminoplasty, Subaxial cervical fracture
Posterior thoracolumbar / Wiltse / midline	Degenerative, trauma, tumor, deformity, intradural, vascular	Posterior thoracolumbar approach	Lumbar laminectomy, TLIF, Thoracolumbar burst fracture, Spinal dAVF
Transpsoas / lateral lumbar	Lateral interbody fusion, indirect decompression, coronal correction	Transpsoas lateral approach	XLIF / OLIF, Adult spinal deformity
Transthoracic / anterior thoracic	Thoracic corpectomy, ventral thoracic disc, anterior column reconstruction	Transthoracic approach	Anterior thoracic corpectomy, Vertebral corpectomy

Stereotactic, Endovascular, and Device Corridors

Corridor	Best-fit targets	Primary guide	Representative case guides
Frame, frameless, or robot trajectory	Deep lesion diagnosis, laser trajectory, DBS/SEEG targeting	Approach selection	Frame-based biopsy, Robot-assisted biopsy, LITT, DBS, SEEG
Arterial endovascular access	Aneurysm, AVM/dAVF, LVO stroke, carotid disease	Approach selection	Aneurysm coiling / flow diversion, Mechanical thrombectomy, Carotid stenting
Peripheral nerve exposure	Entrapment, tumor, plexus exploration, repair/graft/transfer	Approach selection	Carpal tunnel release, Ulnar nerve transposition, Brachial plexus