TRIGEMINAL NERVE TUMORS OF THE LATERAL SKULL BASE

A retrospective review of 8 trigeminal nerve tumors centered in the la teral skull base was carried out. Clinical manifestations, radiographi c features, and outcome of management are detailed. Six patients in th is series presented for primary surgery, and 2 patients had prior surg ical interventions with incomplete resections. Surgical exposure via t he infratemporal fossa (ITF) approaches resulted in complete tumor ext irpation in all but 1 of the reoperated cases. Limited postoperative c ranial neuropathies and the lack of intracranial complications are par ticularly notable in this series. A mean follow-up of 3 years revealed no evidence of recurrent disease. In the case of incomplete resection , there appears to be no appreciable growth of the small tumor remnant in the region of the cavernous sinus after 5 years. Trigeminal tumors of the lateral skull base with intracranial components below the leve l of the posterior clinoid process are ideally suited for the ITF tech niques. The importance of securing the petrous carotid artery through a wide exposure is emphasized.