Craniofacial Resection
Craniofacial Resection is a type of surgery that is performed to remove tumors from craniofacial area, including paranasal sinus and nasal (nose) cancers.
Some facts about Craniofacial Resection:
- The craniofacial area is the bones of the skull and the face. Tumors in these regions can be removed by a Craniofacial Resection.
- Tumors in base of the skull, ethmoid sinus, frontal sinus, nasal cavity, skull cap and around the eyes can be removed by a craniofacial resection.
- Infection, Bleeding, including hematoma, Increased air around the brain (Pneumocephalus), Cerebrospinal fluid leak, Imbalance of water and sodium metabolism (Diabetes insipidus), Loss of smell, Facial nerve injury, Chronic tearing problems, Vision changes, Facial numbness and Mucus retention are specific risks associated with Craniofacial Surgery.
Procedure for Craniofacial Resection:
- Specific instructions such as when to arrive and food/drink restrictions will be received from your physician for how to appropriately prepare for the procedure,
- You need to arrive at the hospital a few hours before your scheduled procedure on the day of your surgery.
- General anesthesia will be used before the surgery to put you to sleep during the surgery.
- There are multiple approaches for craniofacial resection depending on the location, size, and extent of the tumor.
- Tumors will be accessed in the anterior skull base and sinuses in the upper part of the nose in a Lateral Rhinotomy Approach.
- Tumors involving the upper jaw and eye socket will be accessed in Weber Ferguson Approach.
- A neurosurgeon will work alongside a head and neck surgeon to completely remove the tumor.
- A tracheostomy and/or feeding tube is required in certain resection and reconstruction approaches to help you breathe and eat.
- An incisions will be made in the scalp, within the nose, and sometimes on the face to gain access to tumors that involve or approach the skull base.
- Incisions may be made on the side of the nose, behind the hairline, and possibly down to the lip or under the eye, or across the bridge of the nose.
- Your health care provider will talk to you about where your incisions will likely be made.
- The tumor will be approached strategically to reduce the risk of damage to the brain, nerves, or other major structures.
- The surgeons have a better chance to confidently remove all of the tumor while decreasing possible damage to the brain, nerves and other major structures by approaching the tumor from above and below.
- Other procedures, such as a maxillectomy, dacryocystorhinostomy or orbital exenteration may also be be done along side a craniofacial resection.
- The resected tumor will be sent to the lab to be analyzed by a pathologist.
- The reconstruction process will begin once the pathologist determines that the operable tumor has been removed sufficiently.
- The skull base should be reconstructed in several layers in order to prevent the bacteria in the nasal cavity from entering the brain.
Recovery from Craniofacial Resection:
- The duration for recovery from Craniofacial Resection will depend on the extent of the surgery you have had.
- The medications you will be taking, such as those for pain, blood clot, infection, and constipation prevention and/or other condition will be discussed by your care team.
- Strenuous activity, blowing the nose, bending forward, heavy lifting and driving should be avoided or few days after the surgery.
