Endoscopic Endonasal Transethmoidal Transcribriform Transfovea Ethmoidalis Approach to the Anterior Cranial Fossa and Skull Base

Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 883-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Greenfield ◽  
Vijay K. Anand ◽  
Ashutosh Kacker ◽  
Michael J. Seibert ◽  
Ameet Singh ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE The anterior skull base, in front of the sphenoid sinus, can be approached using a variety of techniques including extended subfrontal, transfacial, and craniofacial approaches. These methods include risks of brain retraction, contusion, cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningitis, and cosmetic deformity. An alternate and more direct approach is the endonasal, transethmoidal, transcribriform, transfovea ethmoidalis approach. METHODS An endoscopic, endonasal approach was used to treat a variety of conditions of the anterior skull base arising in front of the sphenoid sinus and between the orbits in a series of 44 patients. A prospective database was used to detail the corridor of approach, closure technique, use of intraoperative lumbar drainage, operative time, and postoperative complications. Extent of resection was determined by a radiologist using volumetric analysis. RESULTS Pathology included meningo/encephaloceles (19), benign tumors (14), malignant tumors (9), and infectious lesions (2). Lumbar drains were placed intraoperatively in 20 patients. The CSF leak rate was 6.8% for the whole series and 9% for intradural cases. Leaks were effectively managed with lumbar drainage. Early reoperation for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurred in 1 patient (2.2%). There were no intracranial infections. Greater than 98% resection was achieved in 12 of 14 benign and 5 of 9 malignant tumors. CONCLUSION The endoscopic, endonasal, transethmoidal, transcribriform, transfovea ethmoidalis approach is versatile and suitable for managing a variety of pathological entities. This minimal access surgery is a feasible alternative to transcranial, transfacial, or combined craniofacial approaches to the anterior skull base and anterior cranial fossa in front of the sphenoid sinus. The risk of CSF leak and infection are reasonably low and decrease with experience. Longer follow-up and larger series of patients will be required to validate the long-term efficacy of this minimally invasive approach.

Skull Base ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (S 2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore Schwartz ◽  
Seth Brown ◽  
Abtin Tabaee ◽  
Ashutosh Kacker ◽  
Vijay Anand

Author(s):  
Philippe Lavigne ◽  
paul gardner ◽  
Eric W Wang ◽  
Carl H. Snyderman

Intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are associated with increased risk of post-operative CSF leaks despite multilayered reconstruction with vascularized tissue. A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the use of peri-operative lumbar drains (LD) in high-risk skull base defects identified a significant reduction in post-operative CSF leak incidence (21.2% vs. 8.2%; p=0.017). This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of the selective use of CSF diversion, for patients with intraoperative CSF leaks involving endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEA) to the skull base. Method: Consecutive endoscopic endonasal surgeries of the skull base from a pre-RCT cohort and post-RCT cohort were compared. The following case characteristics between the two cohorts were examined: patient age, body mass index (BMI), rate of revision surgery, tumor histology, use of CSF diversion, and vascularized reconstruction. The primary measured outcome was post-operative CSF leak. Results: The pre-RCT cohort included 76 patients and the post-RCT cohort, 77 patients, with dural defects in either the anterior or posterior cranial fossa (pituitary and parasellar/suprasellar surgeries excluded). There was a significant reduction in the incidence of post-operative CSF leak in the post-RCT cohort (27.6% vs. 12.9%; p=0.04). On subgroup analysis, there was a trend toward improvement in CSF leak rate of the anterior cranial fossa (19.2% vs 10.5%; p=0.27) whereas CSF leak rates of the posterior cranial fossa were significantly reduced compared to the pre-RCT cohort (41.4% vs 12.8%; p=0.02). Conclusion This study demonstrates that the integration of selective CSF diversion into the reconstructive algorithm improved post-operative CSF leak rates.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ketan R. Bulsara ◽  
Takanori Fukushima ◽  
Allan H. Friedman

As the management of anterior cranial fossa malignancies has undergone significant evolution, decreases in morbidity and mortality rates have occurred. In this article, the authors discuss the clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, and management options for common anterior skull base malignancies. Also discussed are surgery-related indications and principles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (06) ◽  
pp. 645-650
Author(s):  
Roshni V. Khatiwala ◽  
Karthik S. Shastri ◽  
Maria Peris-Celda ◽  
Tyler Kenning ◽  
Carlos D. Pinheiro-Neto

Abstract Background The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has become increasingly used for resection of skull base tumors in the sellar and suprasellar regions. A nasoseptal flap (NSF) is routinely used for anterior skull base reconstruction; however, there are numerous additional allografts and autografts being used in conjunction with the NSF. The role of perioperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion is also unclear. Objective This study was aimed to analyze success of high-flow CSF leak repair during EEA procedures without use of CSF diversion through lumbar drainage. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients who had intraoperative high-flow CSF leak during EEA procedures at our institution between January 2013 and December 2017 was performed. CSF leaks were repaired with use of a fascia lata button graft and nasoseptal flap, without use of perioperative lumbar drains. Results A total of 38 patients were identified (10 male, 28 female). Patient BMIs ranged from 19.7 to 49 kg/m2 (median = 31 kg/m2), with 18 patients meeting criteria for obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and 12 patients overweight (25 kg/m2 < BMI < 29.9 kg/m2). There was no incidence of postoperative CSF leak. Conclusion In our experience, the nasoseptal flap used in conjunction with the fascia lata button graft is a safe, effective and robust combination for cranial base reconstruction with high-flow intraoperative CSF leaks, without need for lumbar drains.


2016 ◽  
Vol 154 (6) ◽  
pp. 1138-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan P. O’Connell ◽  
Shawn M. Stevens ◽  
Christopher C. Xiao ◽  
Ted A. Meyer ◽  
Rodney J. Schlosser

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
Idan Levitan ◽  
Suzana Fichman ◽  
Yosef Laviv

Background: Malignant atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) usually develops in children. ATRTs are rare in adults, with only one case in the literature describing involvement of the anterior skull base. These primary intracranial tumors are characterized molecularly as SMARCB1 (INI1) deficient. Different types of such SMARCB1-deficient tumors exist in adulthood, usually in the form of extracranial tumors. Very few cases of such a new entity, named SMARCB1-deficient sinonasal carcinoma have been described with intracranial penetration and involvement of the anterior cranial fossa. Case Description: A 36-year-old male presented with acute cognitive deterioration. Over few hours, he developed a fulminant herniation syndrome. Imaging showed a tumor in the anterior cranial fossa surrounded by massive brain edema. The tumor has destroyed the frontal bone with involvement of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses. The patient underwent emergent decompressive craniectomy and tumor debulking but could not be saved. Pathological analysis revealed a highly cellular tumor without rhabdoid cells but with areas of necrosis. Further immunohistochemical stains revealed that neoplastic cells were diffusely and strongly positive for epithelial membrane antigen and P63 and negative for SMARCB1 (i.e., loss of expression), confirming the diagnosis of sinonasal carcinoma. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a fulminant presentation of a SMARCB1- deficient tumor in young adult, involving the anterior cranial fossa and the paranasal sinuses. The main differential diagnosis of aggressive, primary, intracranial SMARCB1-deficient tumors in adults includes ATRT, SMARCB1- deficient sinonasal carcinoma, rhabdoid meningioma, and rhabdoid glioblastoma. Atypical tumors involving the anterior skull base without a clear histopathological pattern should therefore be checked for SMARCB1 expression.


Author(s):  
Mark A. Hughes ◽  
Nick Phillips ◽  
Atul Tyagi ◽  
Asim Sheikh ◽  
Kavita Sethi ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Postoperative meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal complication of endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. Prophylactic antibiotic use varies considerably worldwide. We sought to analyze the safety of a single-agent, single-dose protocol. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective review of 422 procedures performed during 404 admission episodes from 2009 to 2019, encompassing sella, parasella, and other anterior skull base pathologies. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcome measure was development of meningitis within 30 days of surgery. Additional information collected: underlying pathological diagnosis, intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, postoperative CSF leak, and primary or revision surgery. Results Of 404 admission episodes for endoscopic anterior skull base surgery, 12 cases developed meningitis. Seven had positive CSF cultures and all 12 recovered. For pathology centered on the sella (including pituitary adenoma), the rate of meningitis was 1.1% (3/283). For pathologies demanding an extended approach (including meningioma and craniopharyngioma), the rate of meningitis was 14.5% (9/62). Postoperative CSF leak requiring surgical repair increased the relative risk by 37-fold. There were no cases of meningitis following repair of long-standing CSF fistula or encephalocoele (0/26) and no cases following surgery for sinonasal tumors with skull base involvement (0/33). Conclusion For sella-centered pathologies, a single dose of intravenous co-amoxiclav (or teicoplanin) is associated with rates of meningitis comparable to those reported in the literature. Postoperative meningitis was significantly higher for extended, intradural transphenoidal approaches, especially when postoperative CSF leak occurred. Fastidious efforts to prevent postoperative CSF leak are crucial to minimizing risk of meningitis.


1995 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. P63-P63
Author(s):  
William Lawson ◽  
Anthony J. Reino

Educational objectives: To understand and apply the three rhinotomy approaches for extirpation of benign and malignant diseases of the sinonasal cavity, skull base, and anterior cranial fossa.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document