Treatment for Anterior Skull Base Tumors
Treatment for anterior skull base tumors requires a team of specialists. Depending on your diagnosis, your team may include specialists in endocrinology, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, and ophthalmology. Your treatment plan depends on your unique needs. You and your care team work together to find the best treatment, based on several factors:
-
Tumor size and location
-
Symptoms that the tumor is causing
-
Your age and overall health
If the tumor isn’t cancerous, we may suggest waiting to see if it changes over time. You get imaging every 6–12 months to check tumor growth. You also get regular checks with an eye doctor to make sure your vision doesn’t change. You may not need further treatment if the tumor doesn’t grow and you don’t have significant symptoms.
Surgery for Anterior Skull Base Tumors
The tumor size, location, and symptoms determine whether you need surgery. If you do need surgery, a team of doctors works together to remove a skull base tumor:
-
Anesthesiologist
Endoscopic Surgery
ENT surgeons work together with skull base neurosurgeons to remove tumors with minimally invasive techniques using an endoscope. An endoscope is a long, thin tube with a camera at the end. Your surgeon inserts the endoscope through your nose and uses special instruments to remove the tumor.
Craniotomy
We can remove most skull base tumors with endoscopic approaches. We may need to use a craniotomy to treat large tumors or ones that are difficult to access through the nose. During a craniotomy, your surgeon temporarily removes a small piece of your skull. This allows them to access your brain and remove the tumor.
Treatment for Lateral Skull Base Tumors
You’ll need multiple specialists to treat lateral skull base tumors. Depending on your tumor type and symptoms, your care may include specialists in audiology, otolaryngology, and neurosurgery. Your care team personalizes your treatment to your needs. The right treatment approach for you depends on several factors:
-
Tumor size and location
-
Symptoms the tumor is causing
-
Your age and overall health
Sometimes, we may recommend waiting to see if the tumor grows or changes. You get regular imaging to watch the tumor. You may not need further treatment if the tumor doesn’t grow or change.
Surgery for Lateral Skull Base Tumors
A team of doctors works together to provide surgical treatment for lateral skull base tumors:
-
Anesthesiologists
-
Neurotologists (ENT surgeons), specialists in neurological-related inner ear problems
-
Neurosurgeons
To remove tumors in these locations, we typically use microsurgical techniques. This means we operate using a special high-magnification microscope along with fine, specialized tools to achieve the best results.
Your skull base surgeon makes a small incision behind your ear. They remove a small piece of bone at your skull base to access the tumor. Then they pull the tumor away from nerves and blood vessels, removing as much of it as possible.
Non-surgical Treatment Options for Skull Base Tumors
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Some tumors are best treated without surgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) shrinks or destroys tumor cells. Stereotactic radiosurgery allows us to deliver radiation precisely to a tumor without damaging nearby tissues.
It’s different than radiation therapy, which delivers whole-body radiation. In SRS, we sculpt the radiation dose to the size and shape of your tumor. Despite its name, it also isn’t technically a surgery. It doesn’t involve any incisions.
We work closely with the Huntsman Cancer Institute radiation oncologists to offer this advanced treatment. SRS may help even if your tumor isn’t cancerous.
Chemotherapy for Skull Base Tumors
Chemotherapy is a treatment that destroys cancer cells. Most skull base tumors are benign (not cancerous). You may need chemotherapy if you have a sinonasal tumor. Sinonasal tumors are usually cancerous.
Find a Specialist
Why Choose ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of Utah ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ?
Our skull base surgery team does the highest number of procedures in the Mountain West region. Fellowship-trained ENT surgeons, neurosurgeons, and endocrinologists work together to provide comprehensive treatment. You receive treatment from physicians who have developed new surgical techniques and are world-renowned experts. These techniques include minimally invasive options that help you keep your nerve function.
We also work closely with neuro-ophthalmologists in the John A. Moran Eye Center, who specialize in vision problems related to brain tumors, and radiation oncologists at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. This means all your providers coordinate your care in one convenient location.
Our team includes some of the nation’s most experienced acoustic neuroma specialists. All our physicians are dedicated researchers who publish their findings and are known for excellent outcomes and innovative and cutting-edge techniques. Your wellbeing is our top priority, and you receive care from physicians who are also active researchers. We continue to study techniques to bring you the best outcomes. You may have access to leading-edge technologies that are not available elsewhere.
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.
Make an Appointment
You can request an appointment or second opinion with our skull base tumor teams online. We don’t require referrals, but some insurance companies do. Please check with your insurance before scheduling an appointment.
