Imaging Central Skull Base Neural Tumor Spread from Paranasal Sinus Malignancies: A Critical Factor in Treatment Planning

Eight cases of paranasal sinus tumors with central skull base disease are presented. Each patient had coned down noncontrast and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies to evaluate the tumor margins and any potential tumor spread into the cavernous sinuses, V2 and the Vidian nerve. Two patients had tumors that extended up to the face of the sphenoid bone and one had a tumor in the ventral cavernous sinus. These three patients had a complete tumor resection with postoperative irradiation. Two more patients had extensive tumor invasion of the central skull base, one was treated with only irradiation, one refused treatment. Three more patients had tumors that involved the ventral portion of the sphenoid bone with limited neural tumor extension. Two of these patients had surgery with cavernous sinus dissections followed by irradiation. One patient delayed treatment for 2 months and when he returned he had a more extensive tumor and was considered incurable by surgery. He refused further treatment. The technique of the focused MR examination and its impact on treatment planning is discussed.