Skull Base Tumors
Skull base tumors are abnormal growths located at the bottom of the skull, where the brain connects with eyes, ears, nose, and spinal cord. They can be benign or malignant and often involve critical nerves and blood vessels, requiring specialized care.
Causes depend on the tumor type and may include genetic factors, nerve-sheath cell growth, bone/cartilage cell mutations, or spread of head and neck cancers. Many skull base tumors are rare and not linked to lifestyle factors.
Common signs include persistent headaches, vision changes, hearing loss, facial numbness or weakness, balance issues, difficulty swallowing, double vision, reduced sense of smell, or unexplained hormonal changes
No. Many skull base tumors like meningioma and nerve-sheath tumors (schwannomas) are benign. However, some tumors like chordoma or chondrosarcoma can be malignant or locally aggressive. A biopsy and imaging confirm tumor nature.
Diagnosis includes neurological and ENT examination, hearing and vision tests, MRI or CT scans, sometimes PET-CT, and when required, a fine-needle, core-needle, or surgical excisional biopsy for definitive pathology.
An MRI scan is the most accurate for nerve and soft-tissue mapping. CT scans help evaluate bone involvement. PET-CT may be added when malignancy or spread is suspected.
Treatment is personalized and may include:
- Minimally invasive or open skull base surgery
- Precision radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery
- Observation for small, non-growing benign tumors
These are planned by multidisciplinary experts.
In many cases, yes. Advanced endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery removes tumors through the nose without large incisions or brain retraction, reducing recovery time and complications.
Possible risks include CSF leak, cranial nerve weakness (hearing, vision, speech, swallowing), infection, bleeding, and anesthesia-related risks. These are significantly minimized when done by experienced skull-base oncologic surgeons.
Recovery varies by method:
- Endoscopic/minimally invasive: 3–7 days for initial healing
- Open surgery: 10–21 days for hospital recovery + rehabilitation time
Most patients resume daily activity within 2–6 weeks depending on tumor complexity.
If complete removal is unsafe due to nerve or vessel involvement, targeted radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery treats residual tumors with high precision to stop growth and preserve function.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-invasive, high-precision radiation treatment that delivers focused beams to control tumors near nerves. Common advanced systems include the Gamma Knife used worldwide for skull-base tumor control.
Some skull base tumors can recur depending on tumor type and grade. Regular MRI surveillance every 6–12 months is essential for early detection and long-term tumor growth control.