Subtemporal-preauricular approach in the management of infratemporal and nasopharyngeal tumours

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the indication, advantages, and results of the subtemporal-preauricular approach in the resection of tumours arising in the infratemporal fossa and related structures of the lateral cranial base. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients treated by the subtemporal-preauricular approach to resect nasopharyngeal and infratemporal tumours. SETTING: Tertiary hospital. METHODS: Forty patients with lateral skull base lesions were managed with the subtemporal-preauricular approach. There were 19 benign lesions and 21 malignant tumours, the most common being nasopharyngeal carcinomas, juvenile angiofibromas, and adenoid-cystic carcinomas. Most of the tumours were at an advanced stage, with skull base involvement in 13 benign tumours and in 14 malignant ones. RESULTS: Major complications occurred in 6 (14%) patients, and there were 2 (5%) postoperative deaths. All 19 patients with benign tumours are alive, although 5 of them (26%) presented with residual or recurrent disease. The 5-year estimated survival rate of the 21 patients with malignant neoplasms was 39%. CONCLUSIONS: The subtemporal-preauricular approach is a safe and versatile approach to the infratemporal fossa and neighbouring areas of the lateral cranial base, offering satisfactory oncologic results in the absence of intracranial involvement.