Efficacy of the Endoscopic Triportal Transmaxillary Approach for Treating Lateral Middle Skull Base Tumors: A Technical Note and Retrospective Case Series

Combined Endoscopic Transmaxillary Approach for Resection of an Extracranial V3 Schwannoma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Tumours of the pterygopalatine (PPF) and infratemporal fossa (ITF) are rare tumours and are difficult to access. The lateral cervical approach is hampered by the mandibular angle and the vascular nervous elements.1 The classic endonasal endoscopic medial maxillectomy approach has been developed over the past 2 decades but does not allow good control of the most lateral and inferior part of the ITF.2 The surgical video presents a 68-year-old woman with trigeminal neuralgia. The radiologic workup showed a trigeminal V3 schwannoma (TS) into the PPF and ITF. This tumor grew during the follow-up despite fractionated radiosurgery. A 2-dimensional intraoperative video illustrates the gross total removal of the TS through a combined endoscopic endonasal and transgingival transmaxillary approach. The combination of these 2 approaches allows on the one hand, a better view of the lateral and inferior part of the maxillary sinus and ITF and on the other hand, a gain of handling in the operating field and security for our surgical procedure.3 The mini-Caldwell-Luc approach gives good aesthetic results without stomatological complication. Neuralgia disappeared after the surgery, and a gross total resection was achieved, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up. This combined approach is a good alternative of medial extended maxillectomy, which presents a risk for the lacrimal duct risk and postoperative aesthetic deformity because of the removal of the medial and anterior wall of the maxillary sinus. The patient consented to the procedure and publication of her image.