The extended pterional approach for midline anterior skull base meningiomas

Background: Various surgical approaches for the management of midline anterior skull base meningiomas exist in the literature. The main surgeon target is proper selection the appropriate approach that achieves total removal of the lesion without causing morbidity or mortality and facilitates safe effective removal of the tumour. Objectives: To evaluate the role of the extended pterional approach for excision of midline anterior skull base meningiomas as regarding the effectiveness, extent of resection and surgical outcome. Patients and methods: This retrospective study involved 23 cases with midline anterior skull base meningiomas resected through the extended pterional approach. Patients' clinical data, operative notes, imaging studies and clinical follow-up data were analyzed and evaluated. Results: Tumors studied were 9 olfactory groove meningiomas, 8 tuberculum Sellae meningiomas, 4 planum sphenoidale meningiomas and 2 diaphragma sellae meningiomas. Gross total resection tumour excision in 15 cases (64.5%), subtotal excision in 5 cases (21.5%) and partial excision in 3 cases (14%). Complications were diabetes insipidus (2 cases 8.6%), CSF rhinorrhea (3 cases 12.9%) and visual deterioration (3 cases 12.9%). We had two cases of mortality. Conclusion: The extended pterional approach allows safe and effective removal of midline anterior skull base meningiomas. It expands the exposure offered by the classic pterional approach and minimizing the necessity for applying fixed brain retraction with good cosmetic outcome and less approach-related morbidities in comparison with the extensive skull base approaches.