Combined cranionasal surgery for spheno-orbital meningiomas invading the paranasal sinuses, pterygopalatine, and infratemporal fossa

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of combining an endonasal endoscopic skull-base approach and repair with a transcranial orbitozygomatic approach for spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs).

Methods: Three patients with recurrent SOMs underwent combined orbitozygomatic and endonasal endoscopic surgery. In 2 patients both procedures were done in 1 operation and in 1 patient the endonasal surgery was done 2.5 months after the craniotomy. Extent of resection, complications, morbidity, and mortality were evaluated.

Results: Gross total resection was achieved in 1 patient and near total resection in the other 2 patients with tumor left in the cavernous sinus and parapharyngeal space. Two patients suffered cranial neuropathy from the transcranial surgery and the other developed a pseudomeningocele. There were no complications from the endonasal surgery. Patients having combined single setting cranionasal surgery were discharged on day 6 and 8, whereas the patient having only the endonasal component on a later date was discharged on day 2.

Conclusions: A combined cranionasal approach involving transcranial orbitozygomatic and endonasal endoscopic approaches is an effective 2-stage surgery for resecting SOMs invading into the sinuses and paranasal compartments. The ability to perform a multilayer closure involving a vascularized nasoseptal flap additionally decreases the risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Keywords: CS; CSF; Cavernous sinus; Cerebrospinal fluid; Endoscopic endonasal; GTR; Gross total resection; ICA; ITF; Infratemporal fossa; Internal carotid artery; MRI; Magnetic resonance imaging; PPF; Paranasal sinuses; Pterygopalatine fossa; SOM; STR; Skull base; Spheno-orbital meningioma; Subtotal resection; Transpterygoid approach; Transsphenoidal approach.