[Endoscopic endonasal surgery for cranial base tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of endoscopic endonasal approach in surgery for skull base tumor. METHOD: From August 2000 to February 2009, retrospective analyses were performed on clinical data of 21 patients with skull base lesions treated by endoscopic endonasal surgery. There were 3 chordoma, 6 olfactory neuroblastoma, 4 squamous cancer, 5 malignant melanoma, 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 2 sphenoidal malignant adenoma. RESULT: Total tumor removal was obtained in 21 cases,subtotal removal in 2 cases. With follow up of 24 to 108 months, 4 cases were recurred, 5 cases were dead. The complications included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in 2 patients, intracranial infection after the endoscopic surgery in 1 patient. In the two patients with CSF leak, one case cured by internal medicine and another cured by endoscopic surgery. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic endonasal surgery could provide sufficient treatment for skull base tumor, and is a safe, minimally invasive and efficient procedure, but indication should be exactitude selected.