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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Lateral Molar Approach-Driven Transoral Endoscopic Procedure for Benign Infratemporal Fossa Tumor Resection
Published on: August 15, 2025
Surgical management of giant trigeminal schwannomas extending into the parapharyngeal space
Hiroyuki Jimbo1, Shinetsu Kamata, Kouki Miura
1Skull Base Center, International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. hjimbo@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Purpose:
Trigeminal schwannomas extending into the deep parapharyngeal space are relatively rare, and a surgical approach to such tumors has not been well established. We report four cases in which the tumors were completely removed by using a combination of three approaches.
Methods:
Four patients with trigeminal schwannomas extending into the extracranial space were surgically treated using a combination of the transcervical approach, anterolateral retromaxillar pathway via gingivobuccal sulcus, and epi and interdural middle fossa approach.
Results:
The maximum diameters of the tumors ranged from 4 to 7 cm. Three tumors extended beyond the lower end of the maxillary sinus. All tumors were completely excised. The Karnofsky performance scales after surgery were more than 90% in all patients.
Conclusion:
Although the tumors extending to the deep parapharyngeal space are difficult to completely remove via a single approach, a combined approach is useful in these huge extracranial extensions.
