Anterior skull base surgery for benign and malignant disease

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery and Head and Neck Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Skull Base Surgery

Background:

• Tumors in the anterior half of the skull base present significant surgical challenges.
• Traditional surgical approaches may have limitations in achieving complete tumor resection.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for complex oncological cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and benefits of combined craniofacial resection for anterior skull base tumors.
• To discuss technical modifications and surgical strategies employed in this combined approach.
• To report initial outcomes in a series of patients treated with this technique.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 12 patients undergoing combined craniofacial resection.
• Detailed description of surgical techniques involving head and neck and neurosurgical teams.
• Analysis of tumor types, extent, and surgical management strategies.

Main Results:

• The combined craniofacial resection technique was successfully applied to various benign and malignant tumors.
• Tumors included those of the frontal bone, sinus, nasal vault, ethmoid, maxilla, sphenoid, orbit, and selected nasopharyngeal lesions.
• Initial results in the 12-patient cohort are encouraging, demonstrating the feasibility and potential of this approach.

Conclusions:

• Teamwork between head and neck surgeons and neurosurgeons using craniofacial resection expands surgical options for anterior skull base tumors.
• This collaborative technique offers a viable approach for complex tumors previously considered unresectable.
• Further studies are warranted to confirm long-term outcomes and refine surgical protocols.