Inferolateral Transorbital Endoscopic Approach for Spheno-Orbital Meningiomas

Spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOM) are slow growing tumors that often cause proptosis and visual deficits, due to direct compression of adjacent structures or hyperostosis of surrounding bones.Traditionally, these lesions are approached via a lateral transcranial route. Recent interest in mini-invasive surgery and endoscopy brought many authors to study different trans-nasal or trans-orbital approaches.The authors report a surgical case series with 3 patients with proptosis due to SOM who underwent surgery in our institution via an inferolateral trans-orbital endoscopic approach. The authors described our surgical technique and the authorsretrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological outcomes of the patients.All 3 patients had an effective orbital decompression with improvement of the proptosis and pain relief. Histological examination was possible and no intraoperative nor postoperative complications were observed.Therefore, the authors consider inferolateral trans-orbital endoscopic approach as a feasible approach for lesions involving the lateral orbit compartment arising from middle cranial fossa or from orbit itself.