title: Mini-invasive surgery of infratemporal fossa schwannomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infratemporal fossa schwannomas are benign, encapsulated tumours of the trigeminal nerve limited to the infratemporal fossa. Because of the complications and significant morbidity associated with traditional surgical approaches to the infratemporal fossa, which include facial nerve dysfunction, hearing loss, dental malocclusion and cosmetic problems, less invasive alternatives have been sought.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper reports two cases of infratemporal fossa schwannomas treated in 2012 using mini-invasive approaches. The literature regarding different infratemporal fossa approaches was reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first schwannoma was 30 mm in size and was removed completely by a preauricular subtemporal approach. The second one was 25 mm in size and was removed completely using a purely transnasal endoscopic approach. In both cases, there were no intra-operative or post-operative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These two approaches allow non-invasive and wide exposure of the infratemporal fossa as compared to classical approaches. Surgical approach should be selected according to the tumour's anatomical location with respect to the maxillary sinus posterior wall. The preauricular subtemporal approach is recommended for tumours localised posterolaterally with respect to the maxillary sinus posterior wall. Medial and anterior tumours near the maxillary sinus posterior wall can be best removed using a transnasal endoscopic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Skull Base Surgery,Nord University Hospital,Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille,France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Skull Base Surgery,Nord University Hospital,Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille,France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deveze
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Skull Base Surgery,Nord University Hospital,Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille,France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lavieille
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017253:Neurofibromatoses / Q000473:pathology; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Minimally Invasive Surgery