Anterior Approach to the Infratemporal Fossa in Cases of Posterior Wall Invasion of Maxillary Cancer

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 1994;10(2):128-136.
Published online November 30, 1994.

Eun Chang Choi;Joo Heon Yoon;Young Ho Kim;Won Pyo Hong

상악동 후벽을 침습한 상악암의 절제를 위한 측두하와의 전방 접근법

최은창;윤주헌;김영호;홍원표

Abstract

Maxillary cancer is usually detected late, and the majority of patients have advanced(T₃ or T₄) diseases at the first diagnosis. It invades outside the maxillary antrum, superiorly the orbit, ethmoid sinus and the anterior cranial base, anteriorly the facial skin. If the cancer extends through the posterior antral wall, the pterygoid plates, pterygoid muscles and infratemporal fossa are to be involved that make the conventional maxillectomy impossible to remove all the involved structures in infratemporal fossa completely. So, more extensive surgical apprdoach is necessary. We report surgical experience using infratemporal fossa approach(lateral facial approach) in four cases of maxillary cancer and one case of hard palate cancer which extends through the posterior antral wall and involving pterygoid muscles, pterygoid plates and temporalis muscle.

Key Words: Radical maxillectomy, Lateral facial approach, Pterygoid fossa dissection