Microsurgical treatment of communicative skull base chordoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the appropriate surgical approaches and microsurgical resection of communicative skull base chordoma. Methods Twenty two cases of communicative skull base chordomas were microsurgically treated from 1995 to 2005 and followed up. The tumors were removed with extended anterior skull base approach in eight cases, with modified Weber-Ferguson (transmaxillary) approach in eight cases, and with transmandibular approach in six cases. Some cases were resected with combined approaches including pterional approach in 3 eases, subtemporal-zygomatie approach in 1 case, and suboccipital-retromastoid approach in 2 cases. Results Total, subtotal and partial removal of the tumors were achieved in 10 cases, 7 and 5 cases respectively. No patients died and had severe nervous system dysfunction after surgery. However, one had CSF rhinorrhea, one with infection, three with cranial never dysfunction. Twenty patients were followed-up with average 3.4 years, 12 returned to normal or partial works, 5 took care by oneself, 1 needed help, 2 died from tumor recurrence. Conclusion The treatment of communicative skull base chordoma is a challenge to neurosurgeon. The key point is the total removal of the tumor with the microsurgical technique and the appropriate approach depend on the location of the tumor. Moreover, skull base reconstruction is also important to avoid the cerebrospinal fluid leak and infection. Key words: Chordoma; Skull base; Microsurgical operation