Meningioma of the sphenoid ridge recurring into the pterygomaxillary fossa following craniotomy. A case report and surgical approach

: Meningiomas sometimes invade into the surrounding structures, especially into the sinuses, and show remote extracranial metastasis. Meningiomas of the sphenoid ridge sometimes extend and invade into the cavernous sinus, diaphragma sellae, sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses, orbit and the pterygomaxillary fossa. A case of the tumor of the right sphenoid ridge, which recurred into the orbit and the pterygomaxillary fossa two years after the total removal, was presented. Histological examinations of both the first and second tumor showed meningotheliomatous meningioma. A 61-year-old female was admitted on January 17, 1980 with a complaint of left hemiparesis, memory disturbance, disorientation and incontinentia urinae. Right carotid angiography and CT scan showed a large high density mass in the right middle cranial fossa, which was totally removed. After the operation, the neurological status rapidly improved and she spent an uneventful life until February 1982 when she noticed right exophthalmos, ophthalmoplegia and visual loss. Right CAG and CT scan at the second admission showed a strongly enhanced mass in the right orbit and pterygomaxillary fossa. Severe destruction of the posterolateral wall of the right orbit and the floor of the right middle cranial fossa was also noticed. The tumor was totally removed, using modified Dieffenbach-Weber-Fergusson approach, which is usually used for the carcinoma of the maxillary sinus. By this approach, we could easily reach the pterygomaxillary fossa, that is, the floor of the middle cranial fossa and the posterolateral wall of the orbit. This approach seemed to be very useful for the removal of the tumors of the skull base.