This anatomic and prospective outcome study demonstrates that TONES provides safe and effective coplanar endoscopic access to the anterior and middle cranial base. These novel TONES approaches may be added to the wide range of published minimally invasive armamentarium when approaching challenging skull base pathology.

Purpose: Automated delineation of structures and organs is a key step in medical imaging. However, due to the large number and diversity of structures and the large variety of segmentation algorithms, a consensus is lacking as to which automated segmentation method works best for certain applications. Segmentation challenges are a good approach for unbiased evaluation and comparison of segmentation algorithms. Methods: In this work, we describe and present the results of the Head and Neck Auto-Segmentation Challenge 2015, a satellite event at the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Interventions (MICCAI) 2015 conference. Six teams participated in a challenge to segment nine structures in the head and neck region of CT images: brainstem, mandible, chiasm, bilateral optic nerves, bilateral parotid glands, and bilateral submandibular glands. Results: This paper presents the quantitative results of this challenge using multiple established error metrics and a well-defined ranking system. The strengths and weaknesses of the different auto-segmentation approaches are analyzed and discussed. Conclusions: The Head and Neck Auto-Segmentation Challenge 2015 was a good opportunity to assess the current state-of-the-art in segmentation of organs at risk for radiotherapy treatment. Participating teams had the possibility to compare their approaches to other methods under unbiased and standardized circumstances. The results demonstrate a clear tendency toward more general purpose and fewer structure-specific segmentation algorithms.

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Orbital and transorbital endoscopy are versatile, effective, and safe approaches useful for addressing diverse urgent and elective problems. In appropriate clinical situations, these procedures may offer better access and visualization than open or transnasal approaches.

Transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES) is a relatively new technique that not only allows access to the contents of the orbit but also the intracranial compartment, including the anterior cranial fossa, middle fossa and lateral cavernous sinus. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively review the largest experience to our knowledge with regards to surgical outcomes of skull base pathologies treated with a TONES procedure. Forty patients (aged 3–89 years) underwent 45 TONES procedures between the years of 2006–2013. Pathologies were cerebrospinal fluid leak repair (n = 16), traumatic fracture (n = 8), tumor (n = 11), meningoencephalocele (n = 5), hematoma (n = 1), and infection (n = 4). Three patients had a persistent complication at 3 months, including a case each of enophthalmos (unnoticed by patient), epiphora (delayed presentation at 2 months requiring dacryocystorhinostomy), and ptosis (improved at 1 year). Surgical success was achieved in all patients. Of special import, there were no cases of visual decline, diplopia, or stroke. There was no mortality. To our knowledge this is the first study and largest experience of TONES (level 4 evidence) to detail outcomes with respect to skull base pathologies. Our results indicate that TONES procedures can be performed with minimal morbidity. Further studies are needed to assess equivalency with craniotomy based approaches though this initial report is encouraging.

Background Orbital cavernous hemangiomas (OCH) are the most common adult orbital tumor and represent an ideal index lesion for endonasal orbital tumor surgery. In order to standardize outcomes reporting, an anatomic‐based staging system was developed. Methods An international, multidisciplinary panel of 23 experts in orbital tumor surgery was formed. A modified Delphi method was used to develop the cavernous hemangioma exclusively endonasal resection (CHEER) staging system with a total of 2 rounds being completed. Results Tumors medial to a plane along the long axis of the optic nerve may be considered amenable for an exclusively endonasal resection. In select cases, tumors may extend inferolaterally if the tumor remains below a plane from the contralateral naris through the long axis of the optic nerve (ie, plane of resectability [POR]). This definition reached consensus with 91.3% of panelists in agreement. Five stages were designed based on increasing technical resection difficulty and potential for morbidity. Stages were based on the relationship of the tumor to the extraocular muscles, the inferomedial muscular trunk of the ophthalmic artery (IMT), and orbital foramina. Staging by anatomic location also reached consensus with 87.0% of panelists in agreement. Size was not included in the staging system due to the lack of agreement on the contribution of size to resection difficulty. Conclusion Endoscopic orbital tumor surgery is a nascent field with a growing, yet heterogeneous, body of literature. The CHEER staging system is designed to facilitate international, high‐quality, standardized studies establishing the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of endonasal resection of OCH.

Temporalis tendon transfer is a relatively easy procedure to perform that has distinct advantages compared with other forms of facial reanimation and provides very good results. This procedure results in improved form and function, may often be performed in a minimally invasive manner, and eliminates the facial asymmetry typically produced by temporalis transfer.

Objectives:(1) To describe repair of complex orbital fractures using computer planning with preoperative virtual reconstruction, mirror image overlay, endoscopy, and surgical navigation. (2) To test the hypothesis that this technique improves outcomes in complex orbital fractures.Methods: A series of 113 consecutive severe orbital fracture cases was analyzed, 56 of which were performed with mirror image overlay guidance, and 57 of which were repaired without. Data were collected on patient characteristics, fracture severity, diplopia and globe position outcomes, complications, and need for revision surgery. Results:The mirror image overlay group showed decreased postoperative diplopia in all fracture types (P=.003); the effectiveness was maximal for fractures that involved 3 or 4 walls or the posterior one-third of the orbital floor (PϽ.001). The need for revision surgery was greatly reduced in this cohort (4% vs 20%; P=.03). Conclusions:The efficacy of mirror image overlay navigation and orbital endoscopy was studied in one of the largest series of complex orbital fractures in the literature. Based on statistically significant improved outcomes in postoperative diplopia and orbital volume, as well as the decreased need for revision surgery, we accept the hypothesis that mirror image overlay guidance improves outcomes in complex orbital reconstruction and recommend its use for complex orbital fracture repair.