Background: The impact of transnasal endoscopic approaches to the central skull is still increasing. Its use in small children (i.e., under the age of 5 years) is of questionable value.
Patients and methods: The present study is a description of a series of five children under the age of 5 years with lesions of the central skull base.
Results: Three out of five required a combined external and transnasal endoscopic approach. The transnasal access to the central skull base allowed reducing tissue damage and potentially may reduce growth deceleration.
Discussion: Based on our experience on this small series we suggest that a transnasal endoscopic approach to the anterior and central skull base can be applied even in small children. To successfully operate on such delicate pathologies, a well-working interdisciplinary cooperation is mandatory.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.