Abstract: Objective To summary the clinical characters of foramen magnum tumors, discuss the surgical approach and microsurgical skill for improving the ability of diagnosis and treatment of tumors in formen magnum.Methods By analyzing retrospectively 92 cases of foramen magnum tumors resected by the far-lateral approach in department of neurosurgery in Beijng Tiantan Hospital from March 1998 to December 2003.Results All cases adapted the far-lateral approach and microsurgical techniques. In all of 92 cases, total removal was achieved in 66 cases (71.7%); 22 (23.9%) case were resected subtotally and 4 (4.3%) cases were resected partially. Post-operative complications were confirmed in 41 cases (44.6%), 2 case died after operation and surgical mortality was about 2.17%.Conclusion Lower clivus, ventral medullar, lower cranial nerves can be exposed by farlateral approach. The injures of artery, nerve fibers and brainstem in operation can be decreased or avoided by this approach.

Key words: far lateral approach, foramen magnum, microsurgery