Preauricular Transmandibular and Transzygomatic Approach for Tumors of the Infratemporal Fossa Revisited

Aim: To demonstrate the surgical technique and results in patients operated on with a preauricular transmandibular transzygomatic approach. Methods: This surgical technique was used in 21 patients with benign and malignant tumors of the infratemporal fossa (ITF), operated on between 1999 and 2011. Results: Twenty-one patients were enrolled in the study. There were 6 patients with benign tumors and 15 with malignant ones. No patients with benign lesions show any disease recurrence 5 years after surgery and present excellent functional and cosmetic results. Postoperatively, a reduction of pain was noted in all patients with malignant lesions. Four patients in this group, who are alive 5 years after surgery, do not demonstrate any disease progression. Conclusion: The described approach provides an excellent exposure of the ITF and could be the procedure of choice in the management of ITF tumors. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel