What Are Skull Base Tumors?
The base of the skull is made of five bones that are fused together. This is the what the brain sits on top of. There are many major blood vessels as well as the spinal cord that pass through the base of the skull. A skull base tumor is a tumor that grows along or directly below the base of the skull. These tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Some types of skull base tumors include:
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Meningioma
- Nasal Carcinoma
- Orbital Apex Tumor
- Paranasal Sinus Cancer
- Pineal Region Tumor
- Pituitary Adenoma
Many skull base tumors do not cause symptoms. If they do, symptoms are due to pressure placed on the brain, hormone production (pituitary tumors), and nerve compression.
Because many of these tumors do not cause symptoms, diagnosis can be difficult. Many times, skull base tumors are found on an MRI that was completed for an unrelated reason. CT, bone scan, PET scans, and endoscopy are also tools utilized in diagnosing skull base tumors.
How Are Skull Base Tumors Treated?
Skull base tumors can be treated with observation/monitoring, radiation, and/or surgery. These can be used individually or in conjunction with each other. At times, the surgical incision can be made inside the nasal cavity. This approach is minimally invasive which helps decrease recovery time. If this is not feasible, a craniotomy is used (temporary removal of a piece of the skull to gain access to the brain).