title: [Transmaxillary approach for surgical removal of clival chordomas: study of 10 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effectiveness and clinical significance of transmaxillary approach for surgical removal of Al-Mefty type III clival chordomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten cases of Al-Mefty type III clival chordoma were treated via the transmaxillary approach and followed up for 34 months on average (10 approximately 56 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microscopic total removal of the tumors was achieved in 8 patients, and subtotal removal was achieved in the rest 2 patients. Three patients had tumor recurrence but still lived with tumors 26, 36, and 40 months after operation. The other 7 patients resumed their routine life without tumor. The postoperative complications included infection in 1 case that was cured by antibiotic therapy, postoperative obstructive dyspnoea in 1 case that required tracheostomy, and CSF leakage in 1 case that stopped spontaneously 3 weeks after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With better exposure, complete removal, and with less brain damages and satisfactory results, transmaxillary approach is effective for surgical treatment of Al-Mefty type III clival chordomas.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Guo
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Si-xun
authors: SX
authors: Zhang
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Yuan
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Yong-fa
authors: YF
authors: Qi
authors: Zhen-gang
authors: ZG
authors: Xu
authors: Shao-yan
authors: SY
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002817:Chordoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*