Extending the traditional resection limits of squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior skull base.
OBJECTIVE
Preliminary report to evaluate the efficacy of resection of squamous cell carcinomas that demonstrate intracranial invasion.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all cases of extracranial squamous cell carcinomas that extend intracranially treated by a single surgeon.


RESULTS
A total of 21 cases were reviewed. In 6 cases, there was noted to be overt brain invasion. Complete resection of the intracranial disease was achieved in each of the remaining 15 cases. There were no instances of CSF leak, meningitis, brain abscess, stroke, or other intracranial complication noted either acutely or secondarily. In follow-ups that ranged from 10 months (single patient died of disease at 10 months) to 6 years (average, 3.8 years), there were no instances of intracranial recurrence. There was a disease-free control rate of 67.7% at an average follow-up of 4.1 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Extending the resection of squamous cell carcinoma into the intracranial vault judiciously as outlined appears to be associated with acceptable outcomes in the treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the skull base.
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. yducic@sbcglobal.net
Yadranko
Y
Ducic
Brett A
BA
Miles
Peter
P
Sabatini
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D035262:Cranial Fossa, Anterior / Q000601:surgery; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery