[Endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach to the ventral region of craniocervical junction].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the surgical methods and clinical effect of endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach to deal with the lesions of the ventral region of the craniocervical junction.


METHODS
From August 2002 to November 2006, endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach was taken to deal with the lesions of the ventral region of the craniocervical junction, including 6 patients with chordoma, 5 patients with craniovertebral malformation, 3 patients with skull-base invagination combined with Chiari malformation, 2 patients with odontoid fracture . 0 degrees endoscope was used to deal with the lesions of middle and lower clivus, 30 degrees endoscope was used to deal with the lesions of craniovertebral malformation.


RESULTS
Follow-up ranged from 2 to 48 months. Three patients with chordoma recurred. All patients with craniovertebral malformation recovered.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach is a new method to deal with the lesions of the ventral region of the craniocervical junction, and it has many advantages, such as direct approach, good exploration, micro-invasive, wide operation space, and good results.
Liu
Gang
G
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China. Liugang60@yahoo.com.cn
Zhai
Xiang
X
Zhang
Hai
H
Liu
Xue-Bing
XB
Zhang
Jin-Ling
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000473:pathology*; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult