Endonasal endoscopic oncologic resection and reconstruction of the anterior skull base in the elderly: A single-center retrospective study
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Published on: July 5, 2021
E Chabrillac1, G De Bonnecaze1, M Rives2
1Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, University Cancer Institute Toulouse and Toulouse University Hospital, Hôpital Larrey, 24, chemin de Pouvourville, 31400 Toulouse, France.
Introduction:
In old and frail patients, oncologic anterior skull-base surgery through an endonasal endoscopic approach avoids the morbidity incurred by transfacial and transcranial approaches, sometimes considered unreasonable, although surgery remains the gold standard treatment for sinonasal cancer.
Objectives:
To assess the functional and oncologic results of this surgery in over-70 year-olds.
Material And Methods:
A single-center retrospective study included all patients aged over 70 years at surgery, who underwent endonasal endoscopic oncologic resection and reconstruction of the anterior skull base, between October 2008 and October 2018.
Results:
Fifteen procedures in 13 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean hospital stay was 7 days. All resections were considered R0, apart from one case with positive dura-mater margins (6.7%). All patients had complete radio-surgical treatment, in accordance with the REFCOR recommendations. Two cases of meningitis were reported (13.3%). At a median follow-up of 27 months, 4 patients presented local recurrence, 1 of whom also had lung metastases. Two patients died of disease-related or treatment-related causes.
Conclusion:
This technique is a feasible treatment in patients aged over 70 years, providing good functional results, and acceptable oncologic outcome.
