To Örebro University

Introduction: Malignant tumours of the sinonasal region - including those with invasion of the skull base - necessitate surgical resection. The majority of the cases give an opportunity to perform the procedure via minimally invasive, endoscopic approach, without external, craniofacial surgery.

Aim: To assess our clinical experience in treating anterior skull base malignancies, performing minimally invasive endoscopic transcribriform resection.

Method: Between February 2015 and July 2017, four male and one female patient underwent minimally invasive, endoscopic skull base procedure. The mean age was 64.6 years (59-70, median: 66). Every surgery was performed via transnasal, endoscopic transcribriform approach. In two cases Kadish C esthesioneuroblastomas, while in one case a T3N0 sinonasal non-differentiated carcinoma, a T1N0 intestinal type adenocarcinoma and a T4N0 squamous cell carcinoma was the indication of surgery, respectively.

Results: The mean follow-up time was 22.8 months, between 14 and 46 months. Intraoperative complications did not occur during the procedures. Regarding the postoperative period, liquorrhoea and pneumocephalus occurred in one case. Complications were solved with lumbar drainage. During follow-up, neither residual nor recurrent tumour was observed in our patients.

Conclusion: Endoscopic transcribriform resection of the skull base malignancies is a safe and viable alternative to the traditional open approach.