The lateral skull base approach to extensive nasopharyngeal tumours

Large tumours of the nasopharynx with infratemporal fossa and intracranial extension present a surgical challenge. A microsurgical lateral skull base approach to these tumours has the unique advantage of gaining control of the intracranial carotid artery which is essential to tumour removal. A series of cases representing a 12 month experience is presented to illustrate this technique and its advantages. The consequence of malignant transformation of tissues following irradiation further demonstrates the need to use appropriate surgical approaches to enable complete resection of benign tumours.