What Is a Skull Base Tumor?
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A skull base tumor is a mass that forms near the base of your skull. They might develop from the bones of the skull, the lining of the brain, or inside the nose.
Where Are Skull Base Tumors Located?
Skull base tumors grow in the area near the bottom of the brain or behind the eyes, nose, and ears. This region is known as the skull base.
Are Skull Base Tumors Dangerous?
Skull base tumors can be dangerous. Even if they aren鈥檛 cancerous, they can grow and press on surrounding structures, including your brain, nerves, and blood vessels.
What Are Anterior Skull Base Tumors?
Anterior skull base tumors are masses that grow in the front of your skull near the back of your eyes or around your sinuses. Your sinuses are the hollow spaces around your nose and eyes. There are several types of anterior skull base tumors:
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Pituitary tumors develop in your pituitary gland, a gland behind your nose that produces hormones. Pituitary tumors are not cancerous, but they can overproduce hormones and cause many different symptoms. Sometimes, they can also grow and press on the nerves to your eyes, causing problems with your vision.
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Meningiomas develop from the tissue covering your brain and spinal cord. They are usually noncancerous but may grow and press on the nerves that control vision, leading to symptoms.
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Sinonasal tumors, including esthesioneuroblastomas, develop in your nose and sinuses. They are usually cancerous and may need aggressive treatment, even if they are small and not pressing on nerve structures.
Symptoms of Anterior Skull Base Tumors
Anterior skull base tumors can cause symptoms affecting your vision, hormones, or sinuses:
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Problems with vision or eye movements
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Abnormal growth
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Muscle weakness or weight loss
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Erectile dysfunction or changes in libido
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Menstrual changes
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Congestion, difficulty breathing through the nose, or sinus infections
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Decreased sense of smell
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Nosebleeds
Causes of Anterior Skull Base Tumors
No one knows exactly what causes skull base tumors. Some factors may increase your risk:
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Genetic conditions such as neurofibromatosis type 2, which causes noncancerous tumor growth
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Radiation therapy to the head, neck, or brain
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Exposure to chemicals such as arsenic (a heavy metal) or vinyl chloride (an industrial chemical)
Diagnosing Anterior Skull Base Tumors
A skull base tumor diagnosis starts with discussing your symptoms and health history with your provider. Your ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon or neurosurgeon will use several tests:
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Neurological exam鈥擜 neurological exam helps us understand how a tumor may affect other parts of your body. It may assess your vision, eye movements, facial movement, and other reflexes.
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Vision assessment鈥擜n ophthalmologist usually gives these tests. They check your field of vision, including how well you can see and how well your eyes move.
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Blood tests鈥擶e order blood tests to check your hormone levels. This test helps them understand if the tumor is affecting your hormones.
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Imaging tests鈥擸ou may get a CT scan, MRI, or positron emission tomography (PET) scan. These imaging tests allow us to see inside your skull and brain, so we know where the tumor is and how to treat it. A neuroradiologist, a doctor specializing in brain and spine images, reviews and interprets your scans.
What Are Lateral Skull Base Tumors?聽
Lateral skull base tumors are masses that grow at the back of your skull. They鈥檙e usually not cancerous. However, they develop near blood vessels and nerves that control balance and hearing. You may have symptoms when the tumors press on your blood vessels and nerves.
There are several types of lateral skull base tumors:
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Acoustic neuromas grow on the nerve that controls your hearing and balance.
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Meningiomas develop on the tissue that covers your brain and spinal cord.
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Paragangliomas develop from special cells near the blood vessels in your neck or nerves around your inner ear and base of your skull.
Symptoms of Lateral Skull Base Tumors
Lateral skull base tumors cause problems with your ears, balance, breathing and swallowing and sometimes walking. You may experience several symptoms:
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Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
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Balance problems
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Vocal changes such as hoarseness
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Problems with walking or using your hands
Causes of Lateral Skull Base Tumors
There鈥檚 no proven cause of lateral skull base tumors. Some factors can affect your risk:
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Genetic conditions, including neurofibromatosis type 2, which causes tumor growth
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Exposure to chemicals such as vinyl chloride (an industrial chemical) or arsenic (a heavy metal)
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Radiation therapy to your brain, head, or neck
Diagnosing Lateral Skull Base Tumors
Diagnosis starts with discussing your symptoms and family history with your provider. Your provider will also physically examine you. They will use several tests:
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Neurological exam鈥擳hese tests assess your coordination, reflexes, or memory. They help us know how a tumor affects your body.
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Hearing tests鈥擜n audiologist evaluates whether the tumor is affecting your hearing.
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Swallowing tests鈥擸ou see an otolaryngologist who specializes in swallowing assessments. These tests tell us whether the tumor has affected the nerves that control swallowing.
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Imaging tests鈥擸ou may have an MRI, CT scan, bone scan, or positron emission tomography (PET) scan. These tests let us look inside your brain and skull to see exactly where your tumor is located. A doctor who specializes in brain and spine imaging (neuroradiologist) reviews your scans.
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Biopsy鈥擨n some cases, a skull base surgeon removes a small piece of tumor tissue to test in a lab. This helps us confirm the tumor type and diagnosis.
Find a Specialist
Why Choose 亚洲自慰视频 of Utah 亚洲自慰视频?
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. 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.
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 亚洲自慰视频'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鈥檛 require referrals, but some insurance companies do. Please check with your insurance before scheduling an appointment.
Contact the Destination Care Program
The Destination Care Program is an initiative by U of U 亚洲自慰视频 focusing on care for our out-of-state patients. We are here to help you find the services and information you need. Feel free to contact us:
Email: DestinationCare@hsc.utah.edu
Phone: 801-587-6365
