Infratemporal fossa surgery for malignant diseases.

The improvement in the knowledge of the main anatomical landmarks permits an evolution in the safety of the surgical treatment and a conceptual development of the geometrical anatomico-surgical characteristics of the infratemporal fossa. This conceptual evolution determines surgical and oncological advantages: firstly, improved comprehension of the anatomico-surgical limits of the resection and secondly the safeguarding of the oncological "en-bloc" dissection. The lateral approach of the infratemporal fossa gives a wider exposure of the surgical field, a shorter depth of work, a good control over the vessels and the possibility of carry out a microsurgical transfer. The surgical approaches correspond to the topographical location and the biology of the neoplasm in cases with infratemporal fossa and inferior compartment location the lateral transfacial approach is indicated. In cases with involvement of the superior compartment a lateral transcraniofacial subtemporal approach is necessary in order to remove the skull base. In cases with a neoplastic invasion of the skull base where the dura mater is the anatomical plane free from disease it is necessary to utilize an intradural approach. In patients with a secondary spread into the inferior compartment from the maxilla a combined antero-lateral transfacial approach is indicated. Finally, an orbitomaxillary involvement with secondary spread in the upper compartment of the infratemporal fossa necessitates an antero-lateral transcraniofacial subtemporal subfrontal approach.