Abstract: Thirteen cases of tumors involving the cavernous sinus, including 6 pituitary adenomas, 5 meningiomas, one neurofibroma and one chordoma, were reported. The clinical manifestations of these patients were headache, visual deterioration, exophthalmus, palsy of eye movements and endocrinic disturbances. CT and MR played an important role in verifying if the tumors involved the cavernous sinus. All 13 patients were operated on via the lateral, superior or medial wall of the sinus respectively without mortality. The cranial nerves were injured during operation in 5 patients （38.5%）. The authors described the operative techniques and the experiences of prevention of hemorrhage and cranial nerves injury.