[Endoscopic endonasal surgery for cranial base tumor].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the application of endoscopic endonasal approach in surgery for skull base tumor.

METHOD: From August 2000 to February 2009, retrospective analyses were performed on clinical data of 21 patients with skull base lesions treated by endoscopic endonasal surgery. There were 3 chordoma, 6 olfactory neuroblastoma, 4 squamous cancer, 5 malignant melanoma, 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 2 sphenoidal malignant adenoma.

RESULT: Total tumor removal was obtained in 21 cases,subtotal removal in 2 cases. With follow up of 24 to 108 months, 4 cases were recurred, 5 cases were dead. The complications included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in 2 patients, intracranial infection after the endoscopic surgery in 1 patient. In the two patients with CSF leak, one case cured by internal medicine and another cured by endoscopic surgery.

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic endonasal surgery could provide sufficient treatment for skull base tumor, and is a safe, minimally invasive and efficient procedure, but indication should be exactitude selected.