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Updated: Sep 25, 2026
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Anterior skull base surgery for malignant tumors: a multivariate analysis of 27 years of experience
Brandon G Bentz1, Mark H Bilsky, Jatin P Shah
1Head & Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, New York 10021, USA.
Introduction:
Few studies have examined prognostic factors that have an impact on outcomes in anterior skull base surgery by multivariate analysis.
Methods:
We retrospectively examined our institution's skull base experience from 1973-2000.
Results:
During this time, 166 patients underwent an anterior skull base resection for malignancy (median age, 53 years; range, 6-92 years). The 5-year relapse-free and disease-specific survival was 41% and 57% (median follow-up, 53 months). Multivariate analysis found that dural invasion, primary histologic diagnosis, and margin status had a significant impact on relapse-free and disease-specific survival.
Conclusions:
These data indicate that patients with anterior skull base malignancies are treated successfully with skull base surgery. Patients demonstrating adverse prognostic variables such as dural invasion, adverse histologic findings, and/or positive margins should be considered for the addition of adjuvant therapy or innovative therapies as they become available in the future.
