[Surgical approaches of anterior skull base tumors].

OBJECTIVE

Study for surgical approaches on anterior skull base tumors.

METHOD: All 37 cases with anterior skull base tumors were surgically treated. Twenty-one cases were treated with anterior craniofacial approaches: Frontal subcranial combined with total maxillectomy in 8 cases or/with orbital exenteration in 5 cases, combined with lateral rhinotomy in 1 cases, combined with naso translocation with medial maxillectomy in 7 cases. Partial or total maxillary swing combined with naso pyramid translocation in 13 cases. Frontonasal, fronto-orbital and midface degloving in one case respectively.

RESULT: Of the 27 malignant cases the 3 and 5-year survival rates were 81.9% (22/27) and 62.9% (17/27) respectively, and one tumor free case living well more than 9 years. There were no recurrence in 10 cases with benign tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Various craniofacial approaches except lateral rhinotomy provide directly satisfactory tumor exposure and facilitate enbloc resection of the naso paranasal sinus tumor with intracranial extension. Partial or total maxillary swing combined with naso pyramid translocation is good for tumor involving the skull base without intracranial invasion. The fronto-nasal pyramid translocation is good for removal of the upper part of nasal tumor with intracranial extension on well developed frontal sinus. The fronto orbital approach is proper for removal of fronto-sphenoid tumor and midface degloving may be used in selected cases.