[Transmaxillary approach for surgical removal of clival chordomas: study of 10 cases].
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.
Guo
Jing
J
Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Zhang
Li
L
Zhang
Si-xun
SX
Yuan
Yue
Y
Li
Rui
R
Wang
Yan
Y
Qi
Yong-fa
YF
Xu
Zhen-gang
ZG
Liu
Shao-yan
SY
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*