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Introduction: Calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON) are rare, slow-growing lesions occurring anywhere in the central nervous system (CNS). Since their first description in 1978, only 39 cases have been reported in the literature. Methods: The cases of two patients with histopathologically verified diagnoses of CAPNON are presented. Thereafter, we review all reports published so far with respect to study type, number of patients, anatomical area (intracranial, spinal, or both), clinical presentation, radiological presentation, therapy, duration of follow-up, incidence and type of complication, and outcome. Furthermore, current recommendations for the management of spinal and cerebral CAPNON are discussed. Results: A total of 19 retrospective articles were identified and selected for review: 6 case series (31.6 %) and 13 reports of single cases (68.4 %). The 19 articles and our two additional cases added up to a total of 19 patients with spinal CAPNON and 22 patients with intracranial CAPNON. All patients were treated surgically. A follow-up was provided in 13 patients with spinal (68.4 %) and in 16 patients with intracranial CAPNON (72.7 %), respectively. The follow-up showed no signs of recurrence in 12 of 13 patients with spinal CAPNON (92.3 %) and in 15 of 16 patients with intracranial CAPNON (93.7 %). One-tailed Fisher's exact test revealed no significant difference between complete and incomplete resection in terms of disease recurrence (spinal: p = 0.6842; intracranial: p = 0.3749). Analysis of the literature did not reveal any deaths directly associated with CAPNON. Conclusions: Calcifying pseudoneoplasms are rare benign lesions of the CNS of yet unknown origin. Because of the increasing number of reports, this clinical entity should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of intracranial and intraspinal calcified lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The anatomy of the cavernous sinus is described controversially in a number of publications. In the present cadaveric study, the architecture of the dorsolateral wall of the cavernous sinus is studied microsurgically and histologically., Materials and Methods: Twenty cadaveric skulls have been dissected through a classical surgical frontotemporal approach. The temporal skull base was flattened and anatomical landmarks like the meningo-orbital band, superior orbital fissure, foramina rotundum, ovale, and spinosum were identified. Lateral of the trigeminal foramina, the dura was cut and the periosteal dural layer was separated from the meningeal layer, identifying an interdural zone. The length and the extent of this zone were evaluated. The dural architecture of the interdural incision zone was examined histologically., Results: In all specimens, two dural layers lateral of the trigeminal foramina could be separated. The identified interdural incision zone extended in a length of 3.8-6.4 cm in the antero-posterior direction. The zone could be followed medially to the superior orbital fissure for 5.3 mm and lateral of the foramen spinosum for 6.4 mm. The separation of the dural layers allowed the approach to the superior border of the cavernous sinus through this interdural incision zone. The histological analysis of the interdural incision zone showed clearly the existence of two dural layers., Conclusions: The architecture of the temporal-fossa-dura allows the microsurgical separation of two meningeal dural layers through a length of 5-6 cm next to the trigeminal foramina. Opening this interdural incision zone allowed exploring the superior border of the cavernous sinus.