Endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach to the ventral region of craniocervical junction / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the surgical methods and clinical effect of endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach to deal with the lesions of the ventral region of the craniocervical junction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2002 to November 2006, endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach was taken to deal with the lesions of the ventral region of the craniocervical junction, including 6 patients with chordoma, 5 patients with craniovertebral malformation, 3 patients with skull-base invagination combined with Chiari malformation, 2 patients with odontoid fracture . 0 degrees endoscope was used to deal with the lesions of middle and lower clivus, 30 degrees endoscope was used to deal with the lesions of craniovertebral malformation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Follow-up ranged from 2 to 48 months. Three patients with chordoma recurred. All patients with craniovertebral malformation recovered.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endoscopic transoropharyngeal approach is a new method to deal with the lesions of the ventral region of the craniocervical junction, and it has many advantages, such as direct approach, good exploration, micro-invasive, wide operation space, and good results.</p>