Anterior Skull Base Tumor Surgery
Traveling from Outside of Utah?
The location of the tumor, its size, and how it affects you, will help us determine if surgery is the best treatment choice. If so, there are two main approaches for anterior based tumors:
- Minimally-invasive surgery involving an endoscope.
- Traditional brain surgery, known as an open craniotomy, where we remove a piece of bone from the forehead or temple to access the tumor.
A team of doctors works together to remove the tumor and achieve the best outcome for you. Your team can include a variety of specialists:
- Anesthesiologist
- Endocrinologist
- Neurosurgeon
- Rhinologist
U of U ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ's Skull Base Tumor Second Opinion Program
Facing a medical diagnosis can be overwhelming. Our world class experts offer second opinions on skull base tumors.
Before Your Surgery
You will be seen by a team of specialists from different specialities:
They will determine the best approach and goals of your treatment. During your appointment, you may have blood drawn to check the hormones of your pituitary gland. You may also have a vision test to check if the tumor is affecting your vision. Your provider may suggest special scans that allow your surgeons to map any critical structures in real time during the operation.
Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery
Skull base surgeons can remove many skull base tumors with the endoscopic endonasal approach. This is a minimally invasive technique involving an endoscope. Endoscopic end-nasal surgery allows our skull base surgeons to access tumors through the sinus and nasal cavities.
An endoscope is a medical device that transmits images via a long, thin tube and helps us examine the tumor. The endoscope is inserted into the nose. We then use microsurgical instruments beside the endoscope to cut out the tumor while carefully preserving the normal structures around it.
We may restore the area with healthy tissue from inside the nose or elsewhere in your body, such as your abdomen or leg, if needed.
During either or your procedures, we may need to temporarily install a spinal drain to divert any excess cerebrospinal fluid and help the area heal. We will remove the drain a few days after your surgery.
Craniotomy
In a craniotomy, we will access the brain by temporarily taking out a piece of skull. We will draw back the exposed brain during surgery to reach the tumor. We use this approach when we can't reach the tumor through endoscopic surgery.
During a craniotomy, we may view the tumor with the help of a large surgical microscope. Scans from prior imaging tests, which we use as a guide, help us know the exact location of your tumor.
At the completion of surgery, the small piece of skull is usually replaced.
Find a Specialist
Recovery After Anterior Skull Base Tumor Surgery Â
After your operation you will be watched in the neurocritical care unit. You care team will assess your vision and hormone levels after surgery. It's common that after this type of surgery for the salt levels in your blood to change. You may need to be watched for a few days while your salt levels balance. Sometimes that is the only thing that will keep you in hospital.
You usually stay in the hospital for 3–5 days after surgery. We encourage you to start walking the day after surgery. Specialized physical and occupational therapists help you get up and moving. They also offer treatments to reduce dizziness, balance problems, and headaches.
In most cases, you will see an endocrinologist in the hospital and again after a week or two to measure your hormone levels. They may give you hormone supplements if needed. You will also see your skull base surgeon for a follow-up appointment to check your healing.
You can usually resume your everyday activities shortly after your hospital stay. It will likely take a few weeks to regain all your energy.
