Craniofacial resection of extensive benign lesions of the anterior skull base.

Abstract

The craniofacial resection operation was developed for the treatment of advanced nasal, paranasal and orbital malignancies. It has been refined in recent years, giving increased cure rates and better palliation when cure is not possible. When used to treat extensive benign lesions involving the anterior skull base, this procedure allows more complete and safer resection with better access for repair and avoidance of major complications of brain damage, cerebrospinal fluid leak and haemorrhage. Presented here is a technique for craniofacial resection. The study demonstrates its effectiveness and low morbidity in treating 10 patients with extensive benign disease.