[Infratemporal extension of tumors of the skull base]

The tumors of the middle and posterior portion of the skull base may extend extracranially. The spread of the tumors towards the infratemporal fossa is rare. Among 23 skull base tumors with extracranial extension which were diagnosed during the last 5 years, only two middle ear epidermoid carcinomas extended into the infratemporal fossa. Subtotal surgical removal of tumors was obtained in both cases through a subtotal petrectomy with an ultrasonic aspiration of the extracranial extension followed by transcutaneous irradiation. One case is followed free of disease 2 years and a half after the beginning of the treatment. The spread of the tumor into the infratemporal fossa might not be of poor prognosis.