Cranial base neurosurgery is a subspecialty neurosurgery that involves tumors and other pathology of the cranial base. This would involve the base of the skull from the forehead and orbital roofs posteriorly along the entire under-surface of the brain back to the posterior lip of the foramen magnum. This involves many tumors and cranial nerves as they exit the base of the brain as well as blood vessels in these locations.

Because of the difficulty in reaching these structures beyond other structures, this has evolved into a distinct subspecialty in neurosurgery. It often involves extensive exposures, moving bones of the skull and of the face in order to properly access the tumors and their associated structures.

A neurosurgeon in this area will often work in concert with surgeons from other specialties, such as otolaryngologists, who specialize in head and neck surgery, as well as otologists/neuro-otologists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons for certain aspects of reconstruction.

Fortunately, surgical techniques and surgical technology have evolved to a point to make these procedures safe and effective. The emphasis is moving structures that tolerate surgical manipulation, such as facial bones, so that the brain, which does not tolerate surgical manipulation as well, can be safely exposed without retraction in order to treat these tumors with less complication.

Although other treatment options are available such as Gamma Knife, there will always remain a role for surgery and the results are constantly improving such that many, many patients can return to a normal life after successful treatment with these techniques.

Success Story
Mary knew something was wrong when she started hearing a constant ringing in her right ear. Doctors told her it was probably allergies. Three years later, the ringing hadn’t stopped. When she was told that a tumor embedded in her head — behind her ear — was causing the ringing, Mary was understandably concerned. [more]