Skull base surgery for malignant nasal and paranasal tumors

Abstract

We have retrospectively reviewed the clinical findings of 29 cases with malignant nasal and paranasal tumors that were treated with skull base surgery at the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University Hospital. Primary tumors were 12 ethmoid sinuses, 8 nasal cavities, 6 maxillary sinuses and 3 frontal sinuses. Pathologically, there were 19 squamous cell carcinomas, 4 olfactory neuroblastomas, 2 rabdomyosarcomas, 1 adenocarcinoma, 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 1 anaplastic carcinoma and 1 chondorosarcoma.
We analyzed treatment, prognosis, postoperative complications and dural invasion. As a result, five-year cause-specific survival rates were 56%. The patients in 17 cases were alive, in 10 cases died of primary disease and in 2 cases died of other causes. Complications were observed in 6 cases. Dural invasion was observed in 13 cases.
In conclusion, skull base surgery improved the prognosis of patients with malignant nasal and paranasal tumors. A safe surgical procedure of skull base surgery was possible under the team approach.