[A transmaxillary transnasal approach to tumors of the base of the skull].

The microsurgical transmaxillary transnasal approach provides a wide access to the midline of the skull base. Since 1994 the approach was performed in 11 patients while resecting malignant and benign skull base tumors by involving the cribriform plate, orbit, maxillary and sphenoidal sinuses, nasal cavity, clivus, and cavernous sinus. The technique is suitable for extradural tumors of the skull base and can be combined with transcranial approaches for more extensive lesions.