Transfacial and Craniofacial Approaches for Resection of Sinonasal and Ventral Skull Base Malignancies

Malignancies of the paranasal sinuses and ventral skull base present unique challenges to physicians. A transfacial or craniofacial approach allows for wide, possibly en bloc, resection and is ideal for tumors that involve surrounding soft tissue, the palate, the orbit, anterolateral frontal sinus, and lateral dura. Transfacial approaches include a lateral rhinotomy often combined with a medial, subtotal, or total maxillectomy. Reconstruction is most commonly performed with a pericranial flap to separate the intranasal and intracranial compartments. These approaches have evolved and been refined but now are usually reserved for advanced tumors not amenable to endoscopic resection.