The authors present a report on their experience with the translabyrinthine surgical approach to the cerebellopontine angle they used in the course of five years in 16 patients aged 19–61 years. In 14 a schwannoma (neurinoma) of the VIIIth nerve were present, in one a meningioma and in one an expansive arachnoidal cyst. The smallest lesion had on MRI pictures a maximal dimension of 10 mm, the largest one 33 mm. It proved possible to remove completely 10 neurinomas and the meningioma during a single session , the wall of the arachnoidal cyst was resected, major portions of four schwan- nomas were removed during the first operation. In two of these patients MRI check-up examinations indicate a stationary state, in the two remaining subjects the neurinomas were extirpated during the second session. In 14 patients it proved possible to preserve the VIIth nerve , in one patient its damage during surgery was resolved by a graft from the n. suralis. In the investigated group no postoperative complications were recorded. Based on the mentioned experience the authors reached the conclusion that the translabyrinthine approach to expansive processes in the cerebellopontine angle is in case of unilateral affection and deafness a suitable method of neurosurgical treatment. It calls however for early diagnosis, adequate technical equipment of the department and cooperation with an experienced otorhinolaryngologist.

        Key words: translabyrinthine approach, cerebellopontine angle