title: [Removal of Schwannoma in the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossa via endoscopic prelacrimal recess approach].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To sum up and analyze the results of surgical removal of Schwannoma in the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossa (PPF and ITF) through postero-lateral wall via prelacrimal recess approach (PLRA). The surgical technique and indications were presented and discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients aged from 29-59 year-old with Schwannoma in the PPF and ITF, who received the tumor resection via PLRA under endoscope, were enrolled in this paper. Three were female and 3 were male. All of them received preoperative CT and MRI. The PPF and ITF were approached via prelacrimal recess endoscopically under general anesthesia. Schwannoma was histopathologically confirmed after surgery. The postoperative periodical CT and MRI follow up was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumors were removed completely in these 6 patients. No recurrence was found during 19.3 months follow up on the average. Three patients had obvious numbness in the V2 innervation area 1 or 2 weeks after operation and disappeared afterwards. Only 1 patient had mild altercation numbness at the end of follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Schwannoma involved PPF and ITF can be removed endoscopically via PLRA. The lateral wall of nasal cavity might be kept intact. It is a novel minimally transnasal invasive approach to PPF and ITF with less damage and complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education(Capital Medical University), Beijing 100730, China. Email: entzhou@263.net.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shun-jiu
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Cheng-shuo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yun-chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen-kun
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiao-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000601:surgery*; D056739:Pterygopalatine Fossa / Q000601:surgery; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*