• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.3.1-3.9
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• 2019

Background: The infratemporal fossa (ITF) is an anatomical lateral skull base space composed by the zygoma, temporal, and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. Due to its difficult approach, surgical intervention at the ITF has remained a heavy burden to surgeons. The aim of this article is to review basic skull base approaches and ITF structures and to avoid severe complications based on the accurate surgical knowledge. Methods: A search of the recent literature using MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, and other online tools was executed using the following keyword combinations: infratemporal fossa, subtemporal fossa, transzygomatic approach, orbitozygomatic approach, transmaxillary approach, facial translocation approach, midface degloving, zygomatico-transmandibular approach, and lateral skull base. Aside from our Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) trial, there have been very few randomized controlled trials. The search data for this review are summarized based on the authors' diverse clinical experiences. Results: We divided our results based on representative skull base approaches and the anatomy of the ITF. Basic approaches to the ITF include endoscopic endonasal, transzygomatic, orbitozygomatic, zygomatico-transmandibular, transmaxillary, facial translocation, and the midfacial degloving approach. The borders and inner structures of the ITF (with basic lateral skull base dissection schemes) are summarized, and the modified zygomatico-transmandibular approach (ZTMA) is described in detail. Conclusions: An anatomical basic knowledge would be required for the appropriate management of the ITF pathology for diverse specialized doctors, including maxillofacial, plastic, and vascular surgeons. The ITF approach, in conjunction with the application of microsurgical techniques and improved perioperative care, has permitted significant advances and successful curative outcomes for patients having malignancy in ITF.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 1994

Maxillary cancer is usually detected late, and the majority of patients have advanced($T_3\;or\;T_4$) 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.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 1994

To provide the wide and satisfactory surgical field is essential requirement for en-bloc resection of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma invading central skull base. The new design of the surgical approach to the skull base lesions was developed and described the details of this technique and its usefullness. We compared the usefullness of naso-maxillary approach to that of infratemporal fossa approach in cases of angiofibroma invading skull base. Our experience indicates that the naso-maxillary swing approach is better than lateral approach for the large nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. A new approach. naso-maxillary swing approach. is described.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2015

Ameloblastoma is the most common benign odontogenic tumor, with approximately 80% arising in the mandible and the remainder in the maxilla. However, the infratemporal fossa is a rare site in which ameloblastomas occur. Although malignant transformations or metastasizing processes are extremely rare, tumor recurrence is common, if the tumor is not completely resected. Because reoperation could deteriorate quality of life in the patients and increase surgical morbidity, radical surgery is often recommended to minimize recurrence rates. In this report, we presented our experience of resection of ameloblastoma in the left infratemporal fossa with sufficient safe margin through a lower cheek flap approach and marginal mandibulectomy.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.565-569
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• 2001

A new surgical approach to the area of the infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal space is described. This approach results in a wide-field exposure of the infratemporal fossa, pterygomaxillary space and parapharyngeal space. We used two osteotomies on the patient's mandible and temporary resection of zygomatic arch for superior margin of tumor. Lower lip splitting was not needed because the incision was started in the frontal scalp, curved in front of and below the external auditary canal, and extended anteriorly to the greater horn of hyoid bone on the neck along a skin crease. We had good results without sacrifice of the facial nerve, mandibular function and sensory supply of the face and oral cavity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.307-314
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• 2016

We report a case of retiform hemangioendothelioma (RH) located in the infratemporal fossa and buccal area in a 13-year-old Korean boy. The tumor originated from the sphenoid bone of the infratemporal fossa area and spread into the cavernous sinus, orbital apex, and retro-nasal area with bone destruction of the pterygoid process. Tumor resection was conducted via Le Fort I osteotomy and partial maxillectomy to approach the infratemporal fossa and retro-nasal area. The diagnosis of RH was confirmed after surgery. In the presented patient, surgical excision was incomplete, and close follow-up was performed. There was no evidence of expansion or metastasis of the residual tumor in the 8 years after surgery. In cases of residual RH with low likelihood of expansion and metastasis, even though RH is an intermediate malignancy, close follow-up can be the appropriate treatment choice over additional aggressive therapy. To date, 29 papers and 48 RH cases have been reported, including this case. This case is the second reported RH case presenting as primary bone tumor and the first case originating in the oromaxillofacial area.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1999

Objectives: Maxillary cancer is notorious for its poor prognosis because it is usually detected lately and the majority of patients have advanced disease. Especially when the cancer extended to infratemporal fossa or pterygopalatine fossa it is very difficult to remove all the involved structure by conventional maxillectomy. In these cases we have used radical maxillectomy through lateral approach. We tried to figure out the clinical significance of this procedure. Material and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 23 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus who underwent surgical treatment for cure. Among them 17 patients(group A) were treated with initial surgery and 6 patients(group B) underwent salvage surgery after radiotherpy. Radical maxillectomy was performed in 12 patients and conventional total maxillectomy in 11 patients. Results: In group A, 3 out of 9 total maxillectomy case and none of 8 radical maxillectomy case were recurred. In group B one patient died of postoperative complication and among the other 5 patients only one out of 3 radical maxillectomy was salvaged and 2 total maxillectomy cases were died of intercurrent disease. Conclusion: Wide surgical dissection of pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa may improve the survival rate in patients with posterior wall invasion of maxillary sinus.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.271-274
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• 2018

The decision of which surgical approach to use for the treatment of a multifocal craniofacial abscess is still a controversial matter. A failure to control disease progress in the craniofacial region can potentially put the patient's life at risk. Therefore, understanding the various ways to approach the craniofacial region helps surgeons to obtain satisfactory results in such cases. In this report, we describe a patient who visited the emergency department with a large swelling in his right cheek. A blood test and computed tomography revealed odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. The patient developed sepsis due to a progressive multifocal abscess. An abscess was seen in the temporal muscle, infratemporal fossa, and interorbital region. To control this multifocal abscess, we used the facial dismasking flap (FDF) approach. After debridement using the FDF approach, we succeeded in obtaining sufficient drainage of the abscess, and the patient recovered from sepsis. The advantages of the FDF approach are that it provides a wide surgical field, extending from the parietal region to the mid-facial region, and that it leaves no aesthetically displeasing scars on the face. The FDF approach may be one of the best options to approach multifocal abscesses in the craniofacial region.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.19.1-19.6
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• 2018

Background: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPDD) is a rare disease in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space. It forms a calcified crystal mass and induces a limitation of joint movement. Case presentation: The calcified mass in our case was occupied in the left TMJ area and extended to the infratemporal and middle cranial fossa. For a complete excision of this mass, we performed a vertical ramus osteotomy and resected the mass around the mandibular condyle. The calcified mass in the infratemporal fossa was carefully excised, and the segmented mandible was anatomically repositioned. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) microanalysis was performed to evaluate the calcified mass. The result of SEM/EDS showed that the crystal mass was completely composed of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. This result strongly suggested that the calcified mass was CPDD in the TMJ area. Conclusions: CPDD in the TMJ is a rare disease and is difficult to differentially diagnose from other neoplasms. A histological examination and quantitative microanalysis are required to confirm the diagnosis. In our patient, CPDD in the TMJ was successfully removed via the extracorporeal approach. SEM/EDS microanalysis was used for the differential diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.92-99
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• 1996

The primary treatment of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma is at this time, mainly based on radiotherapy. In most studies for patient treated with radiotherapy, overall 5-year survival rate is in the range of 35 to 55%. Obviously, these therapeutic results may be influenced by various factors such as clinical stages, histopathological types and radiation techniques, etc. Though the radiotherapy had a good therapeutic result, there is a limitation to apply the radiotherapy only in cases of the advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Anatomical complexity of the skull base and difficulties in complete surgical intervention were the trouble of the surgery but in the case of radiation failure, there is no adequate choice of other curative modalities. So it is appropriate to investigate whether surgical resection may improve the outcome of treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The purpose of this papaer is to report our surgical experience of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma, then to take into consideration of the new model of treatment strategy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.