ANTERIOR SKULL BASE SURGERY FOR BENIGN AND MALIGNANT DISEASE

TLDR

Craniofacial resection performed jointly by head‑and‑neck and neurosurgeons expands surgical options for anterior skull‑base tumors, including benign and malignant lesions of the frontal bone, sinus, nasal vault, ethmoid, maxilla, sphenoid, orbit, and selected nasopharyngeal lesions such as angiofibromas and chordomas. The study evaluates current craniofacial resection techniques for anterior skull‑base tumors, focusing on combined resection benefits, technical modifications, and outcomes in 12 patients. The authors review combined resection benefits, technical modifications, and outcomes from 12 patients undergoing craniofacial resection. Initial results from 12 patients are encouraging.

Abstract

Teamwork between the head and neck surgeon and the neurosurgeon utilizing the craniofacial resection technique greatly extends the frontiers of surgery for tumors of the anterior half of the skull base. Tumors for which this technique may be used include benign and malignant tumors arising in the frontal bone or frontal sinus, nasal vault, ethmoid, maxilla, sphenoid or orbit. Selected nasopharyngeal lesions such as angiofibromas with anterior or middle fossa extensions and sphenoid or clival chordomas may also be approached in this manner. This report evaluates the surgical techniques currently in use for managing these tumors, by discussing the benefits of combined resection, technical modifications of the techniques, and the results of using these techniques in 12 patients. The initial results are encouraging.