INFRATEMPORAL APPROACHES TO NASOPHARYNGEAL TUMORS

Twenty patients with neoplasms originating in the nasopharynx were ope rated using the infratemporal fossa approach with facial translocation (15 cases), the subtemporal-preauricular infratemporal approach (2 ca ses), and the transmandibular approach (3 cases). A craniectomy was al so required in 14 cases. Fifteen tumors were malignant, while 5 were j uvenile angiofibromas with infratemporal and intracranial extensions. Most of the lesions were large and involved multiple areas of the skul l base. Tumor excision was total in all but 3 patients. Local flaps we re utilized in all patients to seal the operative cavity and consisted of temporalis muscle flaps. The most frequent postoperative complicat ions were wound infections and cerebrospinal leaks. Two patients died as a result of postoperative complications. To date, 1 patient has die d from disease and 3 are alive with local or distant disease.