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Published on: January 17, 2018
[Transmaxillary approach for surgical removal of clival chordomas: study of 10 cases]
Jing Guo1, Li Zhang, Si-xun Zhang
1Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Objective:
To study the effectiveness and clinical significance of transmaxillary approach for surgical removal of Al-Mefty type III clival chordomas.
Methods:
Ten cases of Al-Mefty type III clival chordoma were treated via the transmaxillary approach and followed up for 34 months on average (10 approximately 56 months).
Results:
Microscopic total removal of the tumors was achieved in 8 patients, and subtotal removal was achieved in the rest 2 patients. Three patients had tumor recurrence but still lived with tumors 26, 36, and 40 months after operation. The other 7 patients resumed their routine life without tumor. The postoperative complications included infection in 1 case that was cured by antibiotic therapy, postoperative obstructive dyspnoea in 1 case that required tracheostomy, and CSF leakage in 1 case that stopped spontaneously 3 weeks after operation.
Conclusion:
With better exposure, complete removal, and with less brain damages and satisfactory results, transmaxillary approach is effective for surgical treatment of Al-Mefty type III clival chordomas.