ObjectivesConventionalapproachesforremovaloflateralskullbasetumors,includingtransmandibular,infratemporalfossa,preauriculartranszygmaticsubtemporalapproaches,aremajorinvasiveproceduresthatoftensacrificehearingandcauseabnormalocclusionandcosmeticdefects.Reportsofthetranscervicalapproachforresectionofskullbasetumorsarerare,althoughitwasdescribedforresectionofclivalchordomasinasearlyas1966.Thepurposeofthisstudyistoreviewourexperiencesinmanagementoflateralskullbasetumorsusingthetranscervicalapproach.StudyDesignRetrospectivechartreview.MethodsSixlateralskullbasetumorcasestreatedwithtranscervicalapproachprocedureswerereviewed,includingthemedicalrecords.ResultsTherewere4malesand2females.Agerangedfrom12through52years.Histopathologicaldiagnosesincludedmalignantschwannoma(n=1),malignantcarotidbodytumor(n=1),heamangioma(n=1),schwannoma(n=2)andpleomorphicadenoma(n=1).Transcervicaltechniqueswereusedinallcaseswiththeuseofmicroscopeinthelateralskullbasearea.Completetumorremovalwasachievedinallcases.Postoperativeradiotherapywasimplementedin1caseofmalignantschwannomaand1caseofmalignantcarotidbodytumor.Jugularforamensyndromeoccurredasasurgicalcomplicationin1caseofmalignantSchwannomaofthevagusnerve.Therewasnotumorrecurrenceduringthe10-42monthfollow-upperiod.ConclusionComparedwithconventionalapproaches,thetranscervicalapproachprovidesaeasy,safe,minimalinvasiveandeffectiveprocedureforremovalofselectedlateralskullbasetumors.
