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Skull Base 2007; 17(2): 119-123
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-953513
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Copyright © 2007 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Quality of Life following Surgery for Malignancies of the Anterior Skull Base

Chris Woertgen1 , Ralf Dirk Rothoerl1 , Werner Hosemann3 , Jürgen Strutz2
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
  • 2Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
  • 3Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 December 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Radical surgery combined with postoperative radiation is recommended to achieve the best outcomes in patients suffering from malignant anterior skull base tumors. However, information on the impact of such treatment on the quality of life of these patients is sparse. This retrospective study evaluated quality of life in patients with anterior skull base malignancies after transdural resection and radiotherapy. At follow-up, 36% of the patients were alive (mean survival time, 39 months). Only 45% of the patients were able to work in their previous occupation a mean of 15 months after surgery. At follow-up, 58% of the patients had a recurrent tumor. The mean quality of life index was 42 points (range, 0 to 100). The lowest values were on the job item, and the highest mean value was on the family item. All patients, dependents, or both would agree to surgery in the future. Based on these findings, quality of life after transdural surgery for the treatment of anterior skull base malignancies seems to be low.

KEYWORDS

Quality of life - malignancies - anterior skull base - tumor

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Chris WoertgenM.D. 

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11

93042 Regensburg, Germany

Email: chris.woertgen@klinik.uni-regensburg.de

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