Mesenchymal tumors of the skull base with particular reference to surgical management and outcome

Nine patients with mesenchymal tumors of the skull base have undergone radical tumor excision by the use of the Infratemporal fossa approach. Three cases of chondrosarcoma, two of leiomyosarcoma, and one case each of synovial sarcoma, chondroid chordoma, myxoma, and fibromatosis were managed. In the mean postoperative review time of 6.6 years (range 1.7 to 13) there are no clinical or radiologic signs of recurrence at the primary site in any patient, although two have developed distant metastases. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that, with aggressive and preferably early surgical management using this type of access to the skull base, complete removal of these tumors can be undertaken, and it is now possible to achieve permanent ablation of this type of pathologic condition at the skull base.