Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2017 Feb 27;93:68-70. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

Head and Neck Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Preauricular lesions, including tags, pits, sinuses, and cysts are commonly seen. Some studies have shown increased incidence of hearing loss in these patients but other studies have failed to corroborate this finding. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence of hearing loss in patients with isolated preauricular lesions. Read More

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2016 Oct 26;20(4):390-393. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Introduction Several surgical techniques and modifications have been described to reduce the high recurrence rate after excision of preauricular sinus. Objectives The aim of this study is to review the literature regarding surgical approaches for preauricular sinus. Data Synthesis We performed searches in the LILACS, MEDLINE, SciELO, PubMed databases and Cochrane Library in September, 2015, and the key words used in the search were "preauricular sinus," "sinusectomy," "supra-auricular approach," "methylene blue," and/or "recurrence. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 Jul 4;126(7):1535-44. Epub 2016 Jan 4.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Objectives/hypothesis: Preauricular sinuses are benign congenital malformations of preauricular soft tissues. Complete excision using either sinectomy or supra-auricular approach is advised to prevent recurrence. Reported recurrence varies between 0 and 42%. Read More

Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2015 Feb;48(1):209-23

Division of Otolaryngology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Avenue, Box 25, Chicago, IL 60611-2605, USA. Electronic address:

Defects of embryologic development give rise to a variety of congenital lesions arising from the epithelium and are among the most common congenital lesions of the head and neck in the pediatric population. This article presents several congenital lesions of epithelial origin, including congenital midline cervical cleft, pilomatrixoma, dermoid, foregut duplication cysts, and preauricular sinuses and pits. In addition, the management of these lesions is reviewed. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2014 Nov 15;78(11):1843-8. Epub 2014 Aug 15.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Objective: Although most preauricular sinuses are located near the anterior limb of the ascending helix, some are located in unusual areas around the auricle, as shown previously in limited reports. This study analyzed the clinical manifestations of congenital periauricular fistulas with unusual fistula locations and the possible relationship with the classical preauricular sinus.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent congenital periauricular sinus excision by three surgeons and followed them for more than 6 months. Read More

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2014 May;24(5):367-8

Department of Radiology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan Cantt.

The association of branchial arch anomalies (branchial cysts, branchial fistulas), hearing loss and renal anomalies constitutes the branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome also known as Melnick Fraser syndrome. We present a case of this rare disorder in a girl child who presented with profound deafness, preauricular pits, branchial sinuses and renal hypoplasia. Read More

Int J Biomed Sci 2013 Dec;9(4):260-3

Department of ENT, Lagos University teaching hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

Background And Aim: Preauricular sinus abscess is a common congenital external ear disease. This abscess is usually misdiagnosed because it is commonly overlooked during physical examination. In Nigeria, the prevalence was 9. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2014 Aug 19;41(8):677-9. Epub 2014 Mar 19.

Department of Cellular Pathology, Hospital El Bierzo, Ponferrada, Spain.

Steatocystoma multiplex is characterized by the development of numerous steatocystomas. The condition has occasionally been related to congenital bilateral preauricular sinuses. Herein, we present the third case of such an association, a 34-year-old male who was born with bilateral preauricular sinuses that were surgically repaired. Read More

Arch Plast Surg 2014 Jan 13;41(1):45-9. Epub 2014 Jan 13.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.

Background: Preauricular sinuses are congenital abnormalities caused by a failure of fusion of the primitive tubercles from which the pinna is formed. When persistent or recurring inflammation occurs, surgical excision of the infected tissue should be considered. Preauricular defects inevitably occur as a result of excisions and are often difficult to resolve with a simple suture; a more effective reconstruction technique is required for treating these defects. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013 Oct;149(4):651-2

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013 Oct;149(4):650-1

Ear Nose Throat J 2013 Jul;92(7):304, 306-9

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine-Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines, Ward 10, Taft Ave., Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines.

We describe what we believe is only the third reported case of coexisting first and bilateral second branchial fistulas associated with nonfamilial branchio-otic syndrome. The patient was a 6-year-old girl who presented with bilaterally draining anterior neck puncta, a preauricular sinus, and moderately severe bilateral hearing loss. She had no family history of branchial anomalies. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013 Sep 15;149(3):399-401. Epub 2013 Jul 15.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Uijeongbu St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Korea.

Preauricular sinus is a relatively common congenital anomaly that mainly exists on the anterior aspect of the anterior limb of the ascending helix. Although many surgical techniques have been developed, extirpation of the sinus is not easy because of the ramifications of the sinus, remnants of the sinus wall, and infection with or without formation of abscesses, which can all lead to disease recurrence. In our institution, we have surgically treated a total of 141 cases of congenital preauricular sinuses. Read More

Mol Syndromol 2013 Jan 11;3(6):262-9. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Department of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Trisomy 22 is a common trisomy in spontaneous abortions. In contrast, live-born trisomy 22 is rarely seen due to severe organ malformations associated with this condition. Here, we report on a male infant with complete, non-mosaic trisomy 22 born at 35 + 5 weeks via caesarean section. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2013 Nov 31;270(12):3127-31. Epub 2013 Mar 31.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Vincent hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 93-6 Ji-Dong, Paldal-Gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do, 442-723, Korea.

The objective of this study was to review outcomes of early one-stage surgery of acutely infected preauricular sinus compared to conventional delayed surgery after infection control. The study is a case series with chart review conducted in an academic center. From January 1, 2007 to January 31, 2012, we performed surgical treatments for 136 congenital preauricular sinuses on 103 patients aged 0-15 years. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013 Jun 22;148(6):959-64. Epub 2013 Mar 22.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

Objectives: The preauricular sinus is a common congenital abnormality of the preauricular soft tissues. Here, we demonstrate the decision making in the choice of surgical management of preauricular sinuses based on disease severity. In addition, a method termed figure 8 incision with extended fistulectomy is introduced. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2013 Mar 23;77(3):372-8. Epub 2012 Dec 23.

Department of Otolaryngology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.

Aim: To review the outcomes of two surgical techniques in the management of preauricular sinus in the pediatric population.

Methods: The clinical records of pediatric patients who underwent surgical excision of preauricular sinus in the Department of Otolaryngology of KK Children's and Women's Hospital between January 1997 and March 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into two groups, based on the method used for sinus tract visualization or delineation: (1) Microscope group and (2) methylene blue dye and probe group. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2013 Jan;98(1):84-7

Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Unit, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.

Korean J Audiol 2012 Sep 20;16(2):99-101. Epub 2012 Sep 20.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Preauricular sinuses are common congenital malformations that usually occur at the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix. There are rare cases in which the location of the preauricular sinus is posterior to the tragus, and the direction of the sinus tract is toward the posterior. This variant type of preauricular sinus is called, 'postauricular sinus'. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2012 Aug;47(8):1604-6

Department of Paediatric ENT, Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Branchiootoic syndrome is part of the spectrum of brachiootorenal disorders. Brachiootorenal disorder is a rare autosomal dominant condition, characterized by malformations of the outer, middle, and inner ear, which are associated with branchial and renal anomalies. We describe a case of bilateral branchiootoic syndrome and discuss the anatomy of second branchial cleft fistulae and the surgical management of this uncommon condition. Read More

Otolaryngol Pol 2011 May-Jun;65(3):194-8

Katedra i Klinika Otolaryngologii Gdańskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego.

Introduction: Preauricular fistulas are not uncommon congenital disorders in children. They are associated with imperfect auricle formation as a consequence of incomplete fusion of the auditory hillocks of the first and second branchial arches.

Aim: The aim of this study was to present diagnostic methods with evaluation of treatment results of preauricular fistulas in children. Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2011 May 7;155A(5):976-85. Epub 2011 Apr 7.

Department of Genetics, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

We report on a novel autosomal dominant disorder with variable phenotypic expression in a three-generation family; the major features include hypertelorism, preauricular sinus, deafness, and punctal pits with lacrimal-duct obstruction. We ruled out the involvement of EYA1, SIX1, and SIX5 as candidate genes by direct sequencing of their exons and by SNP-based linkage analysis. Subsequent SNP-based whole-genome genotyping and parametric multipoint linkage analysis gave lod scores >1 at 14q31 (LOD = 3. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2011 Mar-Apr;21(2):234-7

Department of Pediatrics, Fatih University, Faculty of Medicine, Alparslan Turkes Caddesi No: 57, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.

Preauricular sinuses (ear pits) are common congenital abnormalities. The incidence of preauricular sinus is widely varied. Usually asymptomatic, they manifest as small hollows adjacent to the external ear near the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix, most frequently on the right side. Read More

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009 Dec;135(12):1262-5

Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Objective: To determine the histologic relationship and distance between excised preauricular epithelial sinus tract and the adjacent auricular cartilage (sinocartilaginous distance) in a series of patients. The excision of preauricular sinuses is a common surgical procedure. Recurrences are frequent and can be technically challenging. Read More

Ophthalmology 2010 Jan 28;117(1):180-183.e2. Epub 2009 Oct 28.

Orbital Plastic and Lacrimal Clinic, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.

Purpose: Congenital supernumerary lacrimal puncta and canaliculi are rarely reported. Our purpose is to present the largest series of patients with supernumerary puncta and to describe the clinical presentation and associated lacrimal anomalies.

Design: Observational retrospective case series. Read More

Homo 2009 11;60(5):461-72. Epub 2009 Sep 11.

Department of Anthropology, Saugor University, Saugor, M.P., India.

Somatoscopy of the external ear provides a general idea of the shape of an ear, form of the helix, presence (or absence) of Darwin's tubercle and of the attachment of an ear lobe to a cheek, etc. It is of great importance not only to physical anthropologists but also to plastic surgeons, physicians and forensic scientists. There is no detailed somatoscopic study of the ear morphology concerning the entire Indian subcontinent. Read More

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009 Apr;38(2):302-10

Department of Otolarynogology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Objective: To report our experience at British Columbia's Children's Hospital (BCCH) with the use of methylene blue (MB) to demarcate preauricular sinuses (PASs) and branchial sinuses and fistulae (BSF) in children under general anesthesia just prior to surgical excision.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all cases at BCCH between March 2003 and April 2006 in which MB was used to demarcate PASs and BSF. A review of the literature regarding the utility and safety of topical MB was performed. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2009 Jan;20(1):165-7

Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.

An extremely rare case that has not been reported before is described in which metastasis of a follicular carcinoma of the thyroid is resected from the infratemporal fossa. The patient had not been diagnosed of this thyroid pathology. She underwent a left subtemporal preauricular approach, but after this, she had another subtemporal preauricular approach with total thyroidectomy, a facial translocation by degloving, and an endoscopic surgery, because of a local recurrence, and a sella turcica and sphenoidal sinus metastasis. Read More

Laryngoscope 2007 Oct;117(10):1798-802

Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.

Objective: Preauricular sinuses (PAS) are common congenital malformations that usually occur at the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix, but the positions of PAS and directions on the fistular tracts are rarely posterior to the external auditory canal (EAC), which presents as a postauricular swelling. We named these cases as the variant type of PAS ('postauricular sinuses'), and compared their clinical manifestations with those of the classical type.

Study Design: A retrospective study. Read More

Med J Malaysia 2007 Mar;62(1):53-5

Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50630 Kuala Lumpur.

We reviewed the recurrence rate and possible factors influencing recurrence of preauricular sinus after excision. Seventy-one patients with 73 preauricular sinuses seen at our centre from year 2000 to 2005 were reviewed in this study. The overall recurrence rate was 14. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2006 Nov-Dec;27(6):396-400

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to summarize clinical presentation, treatment, and recurrence of preauricular sinuses.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective, institutional review board-approved study reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent preauricular fistulectomy between January 1995 and June 2005 at university-based hospitals in South Korea. Only patients who underwent classic preauricular fistulectomy (not incision and drainage) and could be followed up for at least 3 months were included in the study. Read More

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2006 Jul-Aug;43(4):233-5

Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, 60611, USA.

Previously reported cases of lacrimal outflow dysgenesis have frequently been associated with developmental anomalies or systemic syndromes, raising potential red flags in affected children. We report an unusual case of familial punctal atresia with apparent genetic linkage to bilateral preauricular sinuses without any such comorbid syndromic features. Read More

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2006 Jan;58(1):6-8

Department of Otolaryngology, Sundaram Medical Foundation, IV Avenue, Shanthi Colony, Anna nagar, 600 040 Chennai, India.

A retrospective review of preauricular sinuses operated in Sundaram Medical Foundation, a 140-bedded tertiary care hospital during the period 1995 to 2000 is presented. Patients were operated six to eight weeks after control of infection. Magnification with an operating microscope was always used. Read More

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2006 Jan 13;91(1):F29-30. Epub 2005 Oct 13.

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury SY3 8XQ, UK.

Aim: To determine whether infants with isolated minor anomalies of the external ear are at increased risk of renal malformations.

Methods: Consecutive infants with isolated minor anomalies of the external ear (preauricular skin tags, preauricular sinuses, ear pits, and misshapen pinnae) were offered renal ultrasonography by experienced sonographers over a 41 month period. The prevalence of renal anomalies in such infants was compared with that detected on routine fetal scanning during the same period. Read More

Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg 2004 ;13(3-4):87-90

Department of Otolaryngology, Başkent University Adana Training Hospital, Adana, Turkey.

Osteoma is a slow-growing benign osseous neoplasm. The mandible and paranasal sinuses are the most commonly affected sites in the maxillofacial region. Clinically, this neoplasm may be silent for years without any symptoms and diagnosed only when it becomes big enough or observed coincidentally during radiological investigations. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2005 Apr;40(4):291-4

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.

Objective: To discuss the best surgical approach to the skull base neoplasms.

Methods: Retrospective analysis the 79 skull base neoplasms cases treated with surgical resection in Qilu hospital of Shandong university from 1992 to 2002. Eleven surgical approaches including midfacial degloving, frontal coronal discission, nasal eversion, maxillary swing, partial maxillary resection, total resection of orbit, mandibular swing, combination of front, temple, preauricular, post aureum, neck, and transoral approaches were used to resect the tumor which involved fossae pterygopalatine, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, antero, meso and posterobasilar region, lobi frontalis and lobi temporalis of cerebrum. Read More

Int J Clin Pract 2005 Mar;59(3):370-2

Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Preauricular sinuses are common congenital malformations that usually occur at the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix. We present three paediatric patients with postauricular infected cysts and coincidentally discovered auricular pits. Single-stage operations were performed to remove the cysts, pits and involved cartilage. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2004 May-Jun;21(3):191-6

Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.

Preauricular sinuses (ear pits) are common congenital abnormalities. Usually asymptomatic, they manifest as small dells adjacent to the external ear near the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix, most frequently on the right side. Preauricular sinuses can be either inherited or sporadic. Read More

Histopathology 2002 Oct;41(4):342-50

Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.

Aims: Lymphadenoma of the salivary gland is a rare neoplasm that has not been properly characterized. This study describes the clinicopathological features of three cases.

Methods And Results: All three patients were males, ranging in age from 13 to 57 years. Read More

Pediatrics 2001 Aug;108(2):E32

University of California-Los Angeles, School of Medicine, USA.

Objective: Although many pediatricians pursue renal ultrasonography when patients are noted to have external ear malformations, there is much confusion over which specific ear malformations do and do not require imaging. The objective of this study was to delineate characteristics of a child with external ear malformations that suggest a greater risk of renal anomalies. We highlight several multiple congenital anomaly (MCA) syndromes that should be considered in a patient who has both ear and renal anomalies. Read More

Pediatr Surg Int 2001 ;17(1):77-9

Priyadarshini nagar, Behind Sant Gyaneshwar School, Madhya Pradesh, India.

It is rare for a frontotemporal dermoid cyst to present as a discharging sinus, and even more rare for it to have intracranial extensions. Only a few cases of intraorbital extension have been reported. We report a 14-month-old girl who presented with all the aforementioned features. Read More

Am J Kidney Dis 2001 Mar;37(3):505-9

Servizio di Patologia Neonatale, Dipartimento Pediatria dell'Università di Genova, and the Divisione di Nefrologia, Istituto G. Gaslini, Genova, Italy.

This study reviews nine new families with branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man [OMIM] 113650). Diagnosis was made by studying 10 index cases, and then 22 other previously undetected patients were diagnosed within the nine families. The syndrome consists of conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss; preauricular pits; structural defects of the outer, middle, or inner ear; renal anomalies; lateral cervical fistulas, cysts, or sinuses; and/or nasolacrimal duct stenosis or fistulas. Read More

Laryngoscope 2001 Feb;111(2):317-9

Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT.

Objectives: To compare the long-term recurrence rate of the standard technique (simple sinectomy) and the supra-auricular approach (wide local excision) for the surgical management of preauricular sinuses.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with a preauricular sinus excised between May 1986 and December 1996 were included in this study. Read More

Clin Radiol 2000 Jul;55(7):528-32

Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging and Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.

Aim: Preauricular sinuses are a common congenital abnormality. This study was performed to determine their sonographic features.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen preauricular sinuses (in 13 patients) were examined using a 5-10 MHz transducer to evaluate the nature of the sinus. Read More

Otolaryngol Pol 1999 ;53(6):677-80

Katedra i Klinika Laryngologii AM we Wrocławiu.

Ten children with neoplasms of the head and neck were treated in the Clinic of Otolaryngology of Medical University in Wrocław. In 4 children non-Hodgkin lymphoma-type B (NHL-B) primarily situated in tonsils or adenoids were diagnosed, 3 patients suffered from embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)--2 in the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses and 1 in the middle ear. One boy presented histiocytosis (LCH) in the orbit. Read More

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1999 Feb;87(2):180-3

Department of Pedodontics, A.B. Shetty Dental College, Mangalore, India.

Branchio-oto-renal syndrome, first defined in 1976, is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by anomalies of the external, middle, and inner ear in association with preauricular sinuses, branchial cleft anomalies, and varying degrees of renal dysplasia, including aplasia. Less frequently expressed phenotypic abnormalities include lacrimal duct aplasia and stigmata of renal dysgenesis known as Potter facies. Although the precise incidence of the disorder is unknown, it may be more common than is generally appreciated, and it appears to be distinct from other autosomal dominant otobranchial syndromes. Read More

Plast Reconstr Surg 1998 Oct;102(5):1405-8

Division of Plastic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The congenital preauricular sinus is usually asymptomatic. However, if recurrent infection occurs, complete surgical excision of the sinus is required. If the sinus tracts are not entirely removed, recurrence is likely to follow. Read More

Hum Mutat 1998 ;11(6):443-9

Department of Genetics, Center for Hereditary and Communication Disorders, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA.

The Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by branchial clefts, preauricular sinuses, hearing loss, and renal anomalies. Recent studies have shown that mutations in EYA1 are associated with BOR. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which mutations in the EYA1 gene cause BOR syndrome are unknown. Read More

J Craniomaxillofac Surg 1997 Oct;25(5):279-81

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey.

Penetrating head and neck trauma in children is uncommon and are potentially life-threatening injuries. Penetrating trauma to the head in children is a challenging problem for both the initial evaluating physicians and surgeons. We report upon a patient who had fallen from a tree while cutting vegetables and sustained a penetrating faciocranial injury caused by his knife. Read More

Interv Neuroradiol 1997 Sep 15;3(3):255-60. Epub 2001 May 15.

Service de Neurochirurgie, C.H.U; Angers Cédex, France.

Summary: Resection of skull base tumors is a real challenge in the field of neurosurgery. Anterior petrosectomy gives one of the best approaches to reach the clivus and the pons while avoiding cerebral retractions which are responsable for postoperative complications. Using a subtemporal extradural or an infratemporal preauricular route, the anterolateral transpetrosal approaches produce a resection of the anterior pyramidal bone around the petrous carotid artery. Read More