Abstract

Clivus as an anatomical structure is located at the skull base center and due to its deep location, surgical access to it would be challenging. Petrous-clival line lesions are the main lesions which would extend to the clivus. Tumors of the clivus may be limited to it or be extended to foramen magnum and cervical spine, suprasellar region, sub temporal region, cavernous sinus and CP-Angle. There are various intradural or extradural lesions which can develop in the clivus and these can be chondrosarcomas, chondromas, adenocarcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell cancers, osteogenic sarcomas as malignant lesions and glomus jugulare tumors, meningiomas, cholesterol granulomas and epidermoid cysts as benign lesions. Meningiomas and chondromas are the main lesions which involve clivus. The lesions of the clivus can involve and displace some anatomical structures like the abducens nerve, lowest seven cranial nerves, the basilar artery and the brainstem. Considering these matters, having the precise knowledge about the surgical anatomy of the clivus is crucial to approach the lesions of this area more accurately with lowest surgical complications and achieving the best surgical results.