Labiomandibular, transoral approach to chordomas in the clivus and upper cervical spine.

Three patients with chordomas of the clivus and the upper cervical spine underwent the removal of their tumors through a transoral approach with labiomandibular splitting and microsurgical techniques. This surgical approach provided excellent visualization of the anterior craniocervical area and allowed a gross total removal in each case. Although the lesions in our patients were chordomas, this approach could also be used for other surgical lesions in this area.