Microsurgery for cranio-orbital tumors(report of 27 cases)

Objective To explore the skills of microsurgery for the cranio-orbital tumors.Methods The clinical data of 27 patients with cranio-orbital tumors who underwent microsurgery from May,2000 to May,2011 were analyzed retrospectively.Of 27 patients with cranio-orbital tumors,17 underwent microsurgery through the fronto-temporo-orbito-parietal approach,5 through the supraorbital-pterional approach and 5 through the improved pterional approach.Results The tumors were totally removed in 21 patients(77.8%),subtotally in 4,partially in 2.The postoperative pathological examination showed that,of 27 tumors,19 were meningiomas,2 metastatic carcinoma,1 optic nerve glioma,4 optic nerve fibromata and 1 mixed tumor of the lacrimal gland.The operative complications included the deterioration of vision in 2 patients and the disturbance of abducent function of the eyeball in 1.The follow-up for 6 years showed that 22 survived and 2 died.Three patients were out of contact with us 6 months after the surgery.Conclusions The cranio-orbital tumors should be resected by microsurgery.The appropriate microsurgical approach and skillful microsurgical technique are very important to total resection of the tumors and decrease in the postoperative complications.