Novel Transoral Approach to the Posterolateral Maxilla and Infratemporal Region

Abstract

Surgical access to tumors involving the posterolateral maxilla and infratemporal region remains a considerable challenge for surgeons. Various surgical approaches for treating posterior maxillary lesions require transcutaneous incisions, such as an upper or lower cheek flap, but they often result in substantial morbidity. This article describes a novel transoral approach involving a curvilinear incision, temporalis myotomy, and coronoidectomy to allow direct visualization of the posterolateral maxilla and infratemporal region. This surgical technique may be used for the surgical resection of maxillary tumors that extend into the posterior maxillary sinus wall and pterygoid plate region via a transoral approach.