Percutaneous biopsy of cavernous sinus tumors through the foramen ovale

OBJECTIVE: We present a new application to the widely used Hartel percutaneous route through the foramen ovale to the parasellar region to obtain aspiration biopsies of lesions arising from or invading the posterolateral part of the cavernous sinus. METHODS: Thirteen patients with cavernous sinus lesions that were diagnosed using imaging underwent aspiration biopsy by this route. Nine of them were subsequently operated on, and two will undergo surgery in the near future. For the remaining two, surgical removal of the tumor was not indicated. One of these two patients had a meningioma without any related symptoms and no growth revealed by repeated computed tomographic scans, and the other was diagnosed as having a nasopharyngeal carcinoma and consequently received radiotherapy. RESULTS: The accuracy of diagnosis with this technique was 84%. There was no complication related to the procedure. Having knowledge of the pathological diagnosis before determining the correct treatment helped to define the most appropriate strategy. CONCLUSION: We suggest that aspiration biopsy procedures through the foramen ovate be performed in cavernous sinus tumors before making any decision to indicate open surgical, radiosurgical, and/or radiotherapeutic treatments.