Supraorbital-Pterional Approach to Skull Base Lesions

TLDR

The study introduces a supraorbital‑pterional approach to skull base lesions and reports its use in 16 cases, offering recommendations for its application. The technique employs a supraorbital‑pterional corridor that permits subfrontal, transsylvian, or subtemporal access to deep lesions, especially large suprasellar, parasellar, retrosellar, cavernous sinus, tentorial notch, or orbital tumors. In 16 patients, the approach yielded excellent cranial base exposure with minimal brain retraction and, after bone flap replacement, resulted in little or no functional, anatomical, or cosmetic deficits.

Abstract

Abstract A surgical approach to the skull base is described. It allows excellent exposure of the cranial base with minimal brain retraction. Deep lesions can be handled via subfrontal, transsylvian, or subtemporal routes during the same operation. This approach is most suitable for large lesions in the suprasellar, parasellar, and retrosellar areas and for those that extend into the cavernous sinus, along the tentorial notch, or into the orbit. After the single bone flap is replaced, there is little or no functional, anatomical, or cosmetic deficit. Our experience in 16 cases and suggestion for the use of this approach are presented.