Neuronavigational Guidance in Craniofacial Approaches for Large (para)nasal Tumors Involving the Anterior Skull Base and Upper Clival Lesions

Objective: Due to the destruction of osseous landmarks of the skull base or paranasal sinuses, the anatomical orientation during surgery of frontobasal or clival tumors with (para)nasal extension is often challenging. In this relation computer assisted surgical (CAS) guidance might be a useful tool. Here, we explored the use of CAS in an interdisciplinary setting.

Methods: The surgical series consists of 13 patients who underwent a lateral rhinotomy combined with a subfrontal craniotomy in case of significant intracranial tumor extension. The procedures were planned and assisted by advanced CAS techniques with image fusion of CT and MRI. Tumors included carcinomas (one case associated with an olfactory groove meningioma), esthesioneuroblastoma, chordoma, chondrosarcoma and ganglioglioma.

Results: The application of CAS in the combined approaches was both safe and reliable for delineation of tumors and identification of vital structures hidden or encased by the tumors. There was no perioperative 30-day mortality; however two patients died 5 weeks and 5 months after craniofacial tumor resection due to worsening medical conditions. The most common perioperative morbidity was postoperative wound complication in two cases. Tumors were either removed completely, or subtotal resection was achieved allowing targeted postoperative radiotherapy.

Conclusion: Craniofacial approaches with intraoperative neuronavigational guidance in a multidisciplinary setting allow safe resection of large tumors of the upper clivus and the paranasal sinuses involving the anterior skull base. Complex skull base surgery with the involvement of bony structures appears to be an ideal field for advanced navigation techniques given the lack of intraoperative shift of relevant structures.