Predictors of postoperative performance status after surgical management of infratemporal fossa malignancies

Infratemporal fossa (ITF) tumors are difficult to access surgically due to anatomical constraints. Moreover, aggressive ITF carcinomas and sarcomas necessitate aggressive treatment strategies that, along with tumor-related symptoms, contribute to decreases in patient performance status. To assess factors that predict postoperative performance in patients undergoing surgery for ITF tumors. We reviewed medical records for all patients surgically treated for an ITF malignancy between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2017, at our institution. We collected patient demographics, preoperative performance, tumor stage, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, pathological data, and postoperative performance data. The 5-year survival rate was 62.2%. Higher preoperative Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score ( n = 64; p < 0.001), short length of stay ( p = 0.002), prior surgery at site ( n = 61; p = 0.0164), and diagnosis of sarcoma ( n = 62; p = 0.0398) were predictors of higher postoperative KPS scores. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) ( n = 9; p = 0.0327), and tracheostomy tube placement ( n = 20; p = 0.0436) were predictors of lower postoperative KPS scores, whereas age at presentation ( p = 0.72), intracranial tumor spread ( p = 0.8197), and perineural invasion ( n = 40; p = 0.2195) were not. Male patients and patients with carcinomas showed the greatest decreases in KPS scores between pretreatment and posttreatment. Higher preoperative KPS score and short length of stay were the best predictors of higher postoperative KPS scores. This work provides treatment teams and patients with better information on outcomes for shared decision-making.