Open nasopharyngectomy —Facial translocation approach

Salvage nasopharyngectomy has become the mainstay of treatment after radiotherapy failure for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, surgical access to the nasopharynx has always been a challenge to head and neck surgeons. Various surgical approaches to the nasopharynx includes transpalatal, transmaxillary, midline mandibulotomy, transpterygoid, facial translocation, and infratemporal fossa approaches. The facial translocation approach is based on the principle of disassembling of vascularized midfacial composite units, permitting wide access for the treatment of tumors at nasopharynx, anterior skull base, paranasal sinuses, pterygomaxillary and infratemporal fossa, and the orbit.
Source: Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research