Extended pterional decompression of the orbit: an alternative treatment in endocrine orbitopathy.

Extended pterional decompression was performed in seven orbits. The indication was optic neuropathy in six orbits and corneal ulceration in one. As compared to ethmoidectomy, advantages of the pterional approach seem to be the preservation of the motility of the eye and the lack of paranasal sinus complications. We consider the pterional approach to be appropriate for decompression of endocrine orbitopathies that do not respond to conservative measures.