The trans[[cistern]]al route consists of the following three approaches: 1) anterior interhemispheric [[transcallosal approach]], which exposes the anterior and superior [[thalamus]]; 2) posterior interhemispheric transcallosal approach, which exposes the posterosuperior thalamus; and 3) [[supracerebellar infratentorial approach]], which exposes the posteromedial cisternal thalamus and can be extended laterally to approach the posterolateral thalamus by cutting the [[tentorium]]. The three transcortical approaches are the 1) superior [[parietal lobule]] approach, which exposes the posterosuperior thalamus and is particularly advantageous in the setting of hydrocephalus; 2) [[transtemporal gyrus approach]], which exposes the inferolateral thalamus; and 3) [[transsylvian transinsular approach]], which exposes the lateral thalamus (slightly more superiorly and posteriorly) and is advantageous for pathologies extending laterally into the [[peduncle]], [[lenticular nucleus]], or [[insula]].