Skull Base 2010; 20(2): 075-081
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1238215
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© Thieme Medical Publishers

Results of Anterior Skull Base Surgery in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients

Neil D. Gross1 , Ian Ganly2 , Snehal G. Patel2 , Mark H. Bilsky3 , Jatin P. Shah2 , Dennis H. Kraus2
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
  • 2Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
  • 3Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
26 September 2009 (online)

ABSTRACT

We sought to better define the results of anterior skull base surgery in pediatric and young adult patients. We performed a single-institution, retrospective cohort study in a tertiary-care academic cancer center. Between 1973 and 2005, 234 patients underwent anterior skull base surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Of these, 19 patients were <21 years of age. Surgical indications, findings, and complications were reviewed. Survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with patients ≥21 years old. Nineteen patients <21 years old underwent a total of 20 procedures for lesions of the anterior skull base. Sarcoma was the most common indication for surgery including 6 (32%) patients treated for radiation-induced malignancies. Minor complications were noted with 6 (30%) procedures. There were no major complications and no perioperative deaths. The difference in 3-year recurrence-free (68% versus 59%; p = 0.623) and overall survival (83% versus 66%; p = 0.309) compared with patients ≥21 years old did not reach statistical significance. Anterior skull base surgery is well tolerated in pediatric and young adult patients <21 years of age. Survival is comparable to older patients treated similarly and appears strongly influenced by histology.

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Dennis H KrausM.D. 

Head and Neck Service, Dept. of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

1275 York Avenue New York, NY 10021

Email: krausd@mskcc.org