A simple classification of cranial–nasal–orbital communicating tumors that facilitate choice of surgical approaches: analysis of a series of 32 cases

Cranial–nasal–orbital communicating tumors involving the anterior and middle skull base are among the most challenging to treat surgically, with high rates of incomplete resection and surgical complications. Currently, there is no recognized classification of tumors with regard to the choice of surgical approaches. From January 2004 to January 2014, we classified 32 cranial–nasal–orbital communicating tumors treated in our center into three types according to the tumor body location, scope of extension and direction of invasion: lateral (type I), central (type II) and extensive (type III). This classification considerably facilitated the choice of surgical routes and significantly influenced the surgical time and amount of hemorrhage during operation. In addition, we emphasized the use of transnasal endoscopy for large and extensive tumors, individualized treatment strategies drafted by a group of multidisciplinary collaborators, and careful reconstruction of the skull base defects. Our treatment strategies achieved good surgical outcomes, with a high ratio of total resection (87.5 %, 28/32, including 16 cases of benign tumors and 12 cases of malignant tumors) and a low percentage of surgical complications (18.8 %, 6/32). Original symptoms were alleviated in 29 patients. The average KPS score improved from 81.25 % preoperatively to 91.25 % at 3 months after surgery. No serious perioperative complications occurred. During the follow-up of 3 years on average, four patients with malignant tumors died, including three who had subtotal resections. The 3-year survival rate of patients with malignant tumors was 78.6 %, and the overall 3-year survival rate was 87.5 %. Our data indicate that the simple classification method has practical significance in guiding the choice of surgical approaches for cranial–nasal–orbital communicating tumors and may be extended to other types of skull base tumors.