Craniofacial resection for tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: A 25-year experience

Background. Craniofacial resection is the established "gold standard" for surgical treatment of tumors affecting the anterior skull base. Methods. This study analyzed 308 patients (220 males, 88 females) who had undergone craniofacial resection for sinonasal neoplasia with up to 25-year follow-up. Results. An overall actuarial survival of 65% at 5 years and 47% at 10 years was found for the cohort as a whole. For patients with malignant tumors, the 5-year actuarial survival was 59%, falling to 40% at 10 years. For patients with benign pathology, the actuarial survival was 92% at 5 years falling to 82% at 10 years. Statistical analysis again identified brain involvement, type of malignancy, and orbital involvement as the 3 most significant prognostic factors. Conclusion. Analysis of one of the largest single institution cohorts over a 25-year period provides a baseline against which other approaches such as an entirely endoscopic skull base resection must be judged. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex