Treatment of osteomas located between the anterior cranial base and the face.

OBJECTIVE

Osteomas located on the border between the anterior cranial base and the facial region are benign, often asymptomatic and usually slow growing. They may cause different complications depending on the part of the central nervous or visual systems which they affect.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 1997 and 2002, four patients were treated at the 1st Department of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Medical University of Warsaw for osteomas located at the border of the anterior cranial base. In all patients a radical surgical removal of the tumour was performed via bifrontal craniotomy, with an extradural approach to the anterior cranial fossa. The resulting defects were repaired with autologous bone grafts.

RESULTS

The post-operative results were good regarding morphological, functional and aesthetic outcome. Two of the four patients are described to illustrate the surgical treatment.