Preauricular transmandibular and transzygomatic approach for tumors of the infratemporal fossa revisited.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the surgical technique and results in patients operated on with a preauricular transmandibular transzygomatic approach.


METHODS
This surgical technique was used in 21 patients with benign and malignant tumors of the infratemporal fossa (ITF), operated on between 1999 and 2011.


RESULTS
Twenty-one patients were enrolled in the study. There were 6 patients with benign tumors and 15 with malignant ones. No patients with benign lesions show any disease recurrence 5 years after surgery and present excellent functional and cosmetic results. Postoperatively, a reduction of pain was noted in all patients with malignant lesions. Four patients in this group, who are alive 5 years after surgery, do not demonstrate any disease progression.


CONCLUSIONS
The described approach provides an excellent exposure of the ITF and could be the procedure of choice in the management of ITF tumors.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, North Hospital, Saint-Etienne University Hospital Centre, Saint-Etienne, France.
Andrei P
AP
Timoshenko
Alexander
A
Asanau
Marie
M
Gavid
Victor
V
Colin
Christian
C
Martin
Jean-Michel
JM
Prades
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D015050:Zygoma / Q000601:surgery*