Endoscopic endonasal craniotomy in the management of selected ethmoidal malignancies: the University of Pisa experience.

The authors reviewed the medical records of patients who had undergone endoscopic endonasal craniotomy in our department between 2005 and 2009. Thirteen patients were included in this study: 12 males and 1 female. Patients were affected by ethmoidal malignancies abutting or involving the anterior skull base. In all the patients the anterior skull base was drilled down. Nine patients underwent dural resection. The procedure always included a skull base reconstruction. Postoperative complications included CSF leak, subdural haematoma and pneumocephalus. Our results show that endoscopic endonasal surgery can be a viable alternative to anterior craniofacial resection in the management of selected ethmoidal malignancies. The limited morbidity and high success rate fit well with the data in the literature and make this treatment option advisable.