Skull base tumours are tumours present at the base of the skull. They may be malignant or benign. The treatment involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy either alone or in combination. Their location makes it difficult to access them for removal through surgery. The two surgical approaches used are:
- Open surgery involves removing the tumour through the incision in the skull bone and face. After the tumour is removed the soft tissue and the bone are reconstructed for best possible appearance.
- Endoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical approach with the advantage of shorter hospital stay, less complications and quicker recovery. This involves the accurate visualization of the tumour through an endoscope. The endoscope is a pen-sized thin instrument attached with the camera and that sends pictures to the external display that guides the surgeon. Both the endoscope and the microsurgical instruments are either inserted through individual two or more small holes in the skull (neuroendoscopy) or through the nose and sinus (sinonasal endoscopy).
