FACTORS AFFECTING SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH TUMORS OF THE ANTERIOR SKULL BASE

Fifty-four patients with primary neoplasms of the anterior skull base were treated by craniofacial resection with curative intent. The most common tumor was esthesioneuroblastoma (24), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (10). The overall 2-year and 5-year survivals were 75% and 49%, respectively. High-grade tumors, grades 3 and 4, had a poorer pro gnosis. Tumor size, dural involvement, sphenoid sinus involvement, age , and sex had no significant influence on survival when examined by mu ltivariate survival analysis. Sixteen complications were noted in the postoperative period. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 2 patien ts and loss of frontal bone occurred in 4. There were no operative or perioperative deaths. Craniofacial resection permits surgical resectio n of the majority of anterior skull base tumors with acceptable morbid ity.