[Extension to the infratemporal fossa of malignant tumors of the face].

The authors report about the experience of the N&T department of Laënnec Hospital with tumors of the upper facial structures invading the infratemporal fossa. This invasion is currently diagnosed preoperatively owing to the progress made in imaging. The involvement of the posterior wall of the sinus is the first CT sign. 45 tumors extended into the ITF, including 35 maxillary tumors. For the latter, the frequency of invasion of the ITF was of 38% for all histological types, and of 26% for epidermoid carcinomas. Trismus, the most characteristic sign, was present in 45% only of the tumors studied. Facial pain also was frequent. The prognosis of these tumors is extremely poor, as the survival rate was of 17% at 3 years, with a mean survival of 10 months. The failures of treatment were essentially local. The surgical treatment proposed associates scooping out the ITF to maxillary resection.