Endoscopic craniofacial resection. Indications and technical aspects.
BACKGROUND
Anterior craniofacial resection (CFR) is a standardised procedure for the treatment of tumours involving the anterior skull base. We present our experience in the endoscopic treatment of these tumours.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed of patients treated by endoscopic anterior CFR in our Department from 2004 until 2011.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients were analysed. Mean follow-up was 28 months (range: 6-84 months). The most frequent pathological entity was adenocarcinoma (60%), followed by undifferentiated carcinoma (13%). According to TNM classification, malignant epithelial tumour staging was T3 in 9%, T4a in 53% and T4b in 19% of the malignant epithelial tumours. The complication rate was 6% and the resection was complete in 91% of cases. During follow-up, 9% of patients developed recurrence. The 5-year overall survival rate was 70% and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 85%


CONCLUSIONS
These results seem to indicate that properly planned endoscopic CFR may be a valid alternative to traditional open approaches for the management of malignancies of the anterior skull base.
Unidad de Base de Cráneo, Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España. llorentependas@telefonica.net
José Luis
JL
Llorente
Fernando
F
López
Vanessa
V
Suárez
María
M
Costales
Carla
C
Moreno
Carlos
C
Suárez
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult