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Computer assisted tumour resection of the skull base: case report
G Schultes1, H Kärcher, A Gaggl
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Graz, Austria. guenter.schultes@kfunigraz.ac.at
Summary
Computer-assisted resection precisely removed a skull base tumor in a patient with advanced head and neck cancer. This technique utilized navigation microscopy for accurate tumor removal following chemotherapy and irradiation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Neurosurgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the maxilla, zygoma, orbit, and skull base presents complex treatment challenges.
- Combined chemotherapy and irradiation are standard neoadjuvant therapies for advanced head and neck cancers.
- Surgical resection of skull base tumors requires high precision to minimize morbidity.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old male patient with extensive squamous cell carcinoma underwent neoadjuvant therapy.
- Conventional resection of the maxilla, midface, orbit (exenteration), and lymph nodes was performed.
- Computer-assisted resection of the skull base was subsequently executed using a navigation microscope.
Findings:
- Pretherapeutic tumor extent was mapped on presurgical CT scans.
- Intraoperative navigation transposed planned resection from CT to surgical field.
- Precise resection of the skull base tumor was achieved with computer assistance.
Implications:
- Computer-assisted surgery enhances precision in complex skull base tumor resections.
- Navigation microscopy can improve outcomes for patients with advanced head and neck malignancies.
- This case highlights the integration of advanced imaging and surgical navigation in oncology.