Keyhole craniotomy

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Departments and specialties

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest and most experienced practices in the United States, with campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Staff skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery.

Departments with related expertise

Areas that research this procedure

Research

Doctors and surgeons trained in nervous system conditions, also known as neurologists and neurosurgeons, are working to improve care for people having keyhole craniotomy surgery. 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 brain MRI by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Keyhole craniotomy care at Mayo Clinic

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AboutCare at Mayo Clinic
July 19, 2025
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  1. Thakur JD, et al. Critical appraisal of minimally invasive keyhole surgery for intracranial meningioma in a large case series. PLOS One. 2022; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264053.
  2. Avery RA, et al. Supraorbital and mini-pterional keyhole craniotomies for brain tumors in 204 cases. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2021; doi:10.3171/2020.7.JNS201274.
  3. Brown J, et al. Minimally invasive keyhole craniotomies for microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms: a clinical study and analysis. Neurosurgical Review. 2024; doi:10.1007/s10143-024-02531-9.
  4. Eun J, et al. Outcomes and complications of cerebral aneurysms operated on by eyebrow incision according to aneurysm type and location. BMC Surgery. 2023; doi:10.1186/s12893-023-01942-7.
  5. Mai MD, et al. Clinical outcomes and complications of eyelid versus eyebrow supraorbital keyhole approaches: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurgical Focus. 2024; doi:10.3171/2024.2.FOCUS23610.
  6. Flint PW, et al., eds. Surgery of the anterior and middle cranial base. In: Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed June 16, 2025.
  7. Jandial R. Supraorbital (keyhole) craniotomy with optional orbital osteotomy. In: Core Techniques in Operative Neurosurgery. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed June 16, 2025.
  8. Perneczky A, et al. Endoscope-assisted brain surgery: Part 1 — Evolution, basic concept, and current technique. Neurosurgery. 1998; doi:10.1097/00006123-199802000-00001.
  9. Reisch R, et al. The keyhole concept in neurosurgery. World Neurosurgery. 2013; doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2012.02.024.
  10. Ong V, et al. The pterional keyhole craniotomy approach: A historical perspective. World Neurosurgery. 2023; doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2023.07.012.
  11. 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.
  12. Avery MB, et al. Supraorbital and mini-pterional keyhole craniotomies for brain tumors: A clinical and anatomical comparison of indications and outcomes in 204 cases. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2022; doi:10.3171/2021.6.JNS21759.
  13. Hu W, et al. Computed tomography study of the retrosigmoid craniotomy keyhole approach using surface landmarks. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2023; doi:10.1155/2023/5407912.
  14. Vijay A, et al., eds. Combined multiportal "pull-through" keyhole craniotomy. In: Integrated Management of Complex Intracranial Lesions: Open, Endoscopic, and Keyhole Techniques. Cambridge University Press. 2021.
  15. 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?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed June 17, 2025.
  16. Parab A, et al. Endoscopic keyhole retromastoid approach in neurosurgical practice: Ant-Man's view of the neurosurgical marvel. World Neurosurgery. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2019.02.203.
  17. Yang PF, et al. Keyhole corticoamygdalohippocampectomy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Neuropsychiatry. 2017; DOI 10.1007/s10143-015-0657-8.
  18. Health Education & Content Services. Craniotomy. Mayo Clinic; 2023.

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