Interdisciplinary surgical treatment of anterior skull base tumors
Anton, J.V.; Gstöttner, W.; Matula, C.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 111(14): 560-567
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5325 PMID: 10467643 Document Number: 498948
Objectives: We present our clinical experiences regarding interdisciplinary surgical treatment of anterior skull base tumours and evaluate postoperative results. Methods: Fifty-seven patients (25 male, 32 female) with benign and malignant neoplasms involving the anterior skull base were retrospectivley reviewed. In all cases tumour resection was carried out by an interdisciplinary rhino-neuro-surgical skull base operating team. Forty-three of 57 patients (75.4%) underwent common transbasal tumour resection and 11 (19.3%) were operated on from an extended transbasal approach. An extensive transbasal approach for tumour resection was used in 3 patients (5.3%). Postoperative mortality and morbidity were evaluated over a period of 6 months. Results: In all 57 patients a good access to the frontal fossa and the sinuses was achieved. By means of the transbasal approaches, one-step tumour removal was possible in all cases. Tumor diameter ranged fom 12 mm to 114 mm. Even tumours extending as far as the hard palate required no additional transfacial procedures. Surgical mortality was 3.5%. Permanent postoperative complications were noted in 4 cases (7.02%) and transient postoperative complications in 7 (12.28%). Conclusion: In dealing with anterior skull base tumours, interdisciplinary surgical procedures using transbasal approaches provide a satisfactory outcome at a low rate of postoperative complications. When transbasal approaches are applied, no additional transfacial skull base exposure using midfacial incisions is required.