ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of microsurgical treatment in cavernous sinus tumors.Methods:The clinical data of 87 patients with cavernous sinus tumor treated by microsurgery from January, 2010 to August, 2019 were analysed retrospectively. The surgical approaches and microsurgical skills for common tumors in Cavernous Sinus region were discussed. The follow-up included outpatient and telephone follow-ups, and the follow-up results were evaluated by KPS score.Results:Among the 87 cases, 57 were totally resected (65.5%), 14 were subtotal resected (16.1%) and 16 were major resected (18.4%). Hospitalisation ranged from 14 to 98 days, with an average of 29 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 30 cases with cranial nerve injury, 2 brain stem injury, 4 postoperative bleeding, 5 cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 4 infection, 1 Pituitary damage and 1 death. Prognosis and follow-up analysis showed 68 cases with KPS>60 and 66 with KPS>80 at 1 month after surgery; 74 with KPS>70 and 72 with KPS>80 at 3 months after surgery; 78 with KPS>80 by 12 months after surgery. During the follow-up period of 6-120 months, 3 cases died. Recurrence: 6 of incomplete resection of meningioma, were in 1-6 years after the surgery, 4 of incomplete resection of schwannoma in 1-8 years, 2 of pituitary adenoma respectively in 13 and 16 months after the surgery. There was no recurrence after reoperation. Two cases of chondrosarcoma, 3 of chordoma and 3 of germinoma were treated with radiotherapy, and during the follow-up, there was no progress of the focus. No tumor progression or recurrence was found in other cases during follow-up.Conclusion:Surgery of cavernous sinus tumor is difficult due to frequent postoperative complications. Reasonable preoperative plan, surgical approach and precise microsurgical techniques are the keys in reduction of postoperative complications and in the improvement of prognosis.