title: A surgical approach to extensive tumors in the pterygopalatine fossa extending into the maxillary sinus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes a surgical approach to extensive tumors in the pterygopalatine fossa extending into the maxillary sinus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Barbosa approach was modified by adding a lateral incision in the mandibular gingivobuccal fold from the canine tooth to the retromolar area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This technique allowed a large, inferiorly based flap to be raised, which includes the parotid gland. The masseter and temporalis muscles was divided horizontally, and the ascending ramus of the mandible was osteotomized between the mandibular angle and the sigmoid notch and reflected to expose the tumor in the pterygopalatine fossa and maxillary sinus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique is especially useful to tumors in the pterygopalatine fossa extending into the maxillary sinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiang Ya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery; D014081:Tooth Extraction