Surgery of the lateral skull base: a 50-year endeavour

摘要: Disregarding the widely used division of skull base into anterior and lateral, since should be conceived as a single anatomic structure, it was to our convenience group all those approaches that run from antero-lateral, pure lateral postero-lateral side “Surgery base”. “50 years endeavour” points great effort which has been made over last decades, when more difficult surgeries were performed by reducing morbidity. The principle surgery, “remove bone approach itself adjacent sites endo-esocranium”, then combined with function preservation tailoring surgery pathology. concept histology dictates extent resection, balancing intrinsic morbidity each object first section present report. main surgical described in second not step-by-step description technique, but highlighthening principles. third centered on open issues related tumor its treatment. topic vestibular schwannoma investigated current debate observation, hearing rehabilitation, radiotherapy recent efforts detect biological markers able predict growth. Jugular foramen paragangliomas treated frame radical or partial radiotherapy, “tailored” observation. Surgery meningioma debated point view neurosurgeon otologist. Endolymphatic sac tumors malignant external auditory canal also treated, well chordomas, chondrosarcomas petrous cholesteatomas. Finally, fourth focused free-choice topics assigned aknowledged experts. aim this work attempting report state art after 50 hard and, above all, raise questions still need an answer, allow progress knowledge through sharing various experiences. At end reading, if doubts remain rather than certainties, will probably achieved.