A combined orbitozygomatic infratemporal epidural and subdural approach for lesions involving the entire cavernous sinus

The authors present four cases of vascular lesions and 10 cases of tumors involving the cavernous sinus. They were operated on via a combined orbitozygomatic infratemporal epidural and subdural approach. With this approach, multisided exposure of the cavernous sinus can be achieved via the shortest possible distance with minimal retraction of the neural structures in and around the cavernous sinus. In one patient the carotid artery had been occluded previously, but in the other 13 patients it was preserved. There was no mortality, and all patients except one returned to work within 6 months after surgery.