Skull Base surgery

• The skull base is a complicated area with different openings through which the spinal cord, many blood vessels, and nerves all passes.
• Both noncancerous and cancerous growths, and abnormalities on the underside of the brain, the skull base, or the top few vertebrae of the spinal column can be removed by Skull base surgery. 
• Skull base surgery may be done by a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure as it is very difficult to see and reach this area.
• Brain abnormalities that are treated with skull base surgery include skull base tumor, aneurysm, trigeminal neuralgia, hematoma, arteriovenous malformation, brain abscess and hydrocephalus
• The symptoms from a growth or abnormality in the skull base area will depend on the size, type, and location of the growth or abnormality, 
• Facial pain, Headache, Dizziness, Visual problems, Numbness, Weakness of the face, Hearing loss or ringing in the ears, and Nasal congestion or frequent sinus infections can be the symptoms.
• Imaging studies are important for diagnosing growths or abnormalities that may require skull base surgery.
• Brain imaging studies such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram), PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computed tomography) scans can be performed in which pictures of the skull is created to help your medical team see a growth or abnormality.
• A biopsy may be done by using an endoscope that is placed through the nose and sinuses. Fine need aspiration, or excisional biopsy may also be done.
• Your balance, cranial nerves, vision, muscle activity and hearing may also be checked.

• Skull base surgery can be done in two ways depending on the type of growth that needs to be removed and its location.
• Endoscopic or minimally-invasive skull base surgery and Traditional or open skull base surgery are the two kinds of skull base surgery.
• Although, endoscopic is the preferred method, open surgery is also an option in some cases.
• A small opening ill be made by the surgeon inside the nose and the growth will be removed through a thin lighted tube called an endoscope in case of Endoscopic or minimally-invasive skull base surgery.
• An MRI may be done by a radiology specialist during or before the procedure to help the surgeon make sure all of the growth has been removed. 
• Traditional or open skull base surgery may require incisions in the facial area and in the skull. Parts of bone may also need to be removed so that the growth can be reached and removed.
• An operating room microscope may be used for this type of surgery.

Treatment Options:

• Some additional treatments may be needed in addition to endoscopic and open skull base surgery, depending on the type of growth or abnormality of the skull base.
• Chemotherapy are drugs that may be used to treat growths caused by cancer.
• Radiation therapy is a X-ray treatment that may be used to control a growth in the skull base which can't be completely removed by surgery.
• Gamma knife is a special type of radiation therapy in which precise X-ray beams are used to target a growth in the skull base.
• Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy for greater accuracy and dosing for tumors.
• Particle therapy is the latest form of radiotherapy in which high energy particles are used with fewer side effects. Carbon-ion radiotherapy is a type of particle therapy.