Skull base surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat both- benign and cancerous tumors present in the base of the skull or the top vertebrae. This method of treatment is better than an open surgery as the instruments are inserted through the natural openings of the skull instead of a large incision through the cranium. The skull can be accessed through three ways- Trans-nasal, Trans-oral and Supra-orbital. A skull base surgery is required in the conditions of cerebral aneurysm, meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas, chordomas, pituitary tumors and other skull disorders.
The requirement of a skull base surgery can be diagnosed by several imaging tests such as MRI, MRA, PET and CT scans which form detailed pictures of the skull and the tumors can be examined with precision. A biopsy is essential to observe abnormalities in the brain tissue as a small piece of the growth is taken out from the skull and is observed under the microscope. Other tests such for vision, smell, hearing and other senses are also carried out.
There are several risks of Skull base surgery such as infection at the site of incision. There are also chances of hemorrhage, nerve injuries and brain damage. There may be a leak of the cerebro-spinal fluid which can cause further disorders of the brain. Eye complications such as blindness, vertical dystopia, double vision, canthal drift and many more can also occur.
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Skull base surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat both- benign and cancerous tumors present in the base of the skull or the top vertebrae. This method of treatment is better than an open surgery as the instruments are inserted through the natural openings of the skull instead of a large incision through the cranium. The skull can be accessed through three ways- Trans-nasal, Trans-oral and Supra-orbital. A skull base surgery is required in the conditions of cerebral aneurysm, meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas, chordomas, pituitary tumors and other skull disorders.
The requirement of a skull base surgery can be diagnosed by several imaging tests such as MRI, MRA, PET and CT scans which form detailed pictures of the skull and the tumors can be examined with precision. A biopsy is essential to observe abnormalities in the brain tissue as a small piece of the growth is taken out from the skull and is observed under the microscope. Other tests such for vision, smell, hearing and other senses are also carried out.
There are several risks of Skull base surgery such as infection at the site of incision. There are also chances of hemorrhage, nerve injuries and brain damage. There may be a leak of the cerebro-spinal fluid which can cause further disorders of the brain. Eye complications such as blindness, vertical dystopia, double vision, canthal drift and many more can also occur.
Skull based tumor is the medical condition characterized by the growth of abnormal cells in the part of the brain that meets the base of the skull i.e. the bones of the skull that form the bottom of the head and the bony ridge behind the nose and the ears. Most of the skull based tumors are benign and do not spread to the rest of the body.
The skull base is a crowded and complicated region with different openings through which the spinal cord, many blood vessels, and nerves all pass through. It is the region which separates the brain from the remaining anatomic structures of the head, which includes the sinuses, eyes, and ears.
Skull based surgery is a highly complicated, minimally invasive surgical technique for evaluating, diagnosing and treating benign or cancerous growths located on the base of the skull. The complexity of this procedure increases as it is a multi-disciplinary task which combines the skills of otolaryngology, neurosurgery, neuro-radiology, anesthesia, intensive care medicine and physical and rehabilitative fields of medicine for the treatment and diagnosis of any tumors of the anterior, middle and posterior base of the skull.
A skull base center, also known as cranial base center is a term describing the approach which is used to care for patients requiring intensive care, who are suffering from complex diseases at the base of the skull. It has been observed that no single physician, surgeon or nurse can provide the complete care required for the treatment of these patients. Thus, it can be termed as the combined skills and efforts of several professionals in order to suffice the treatment of the patient. The professionals involved can be an otolaryngologist, a neurosurgeon, a radiologist, an intensivist, the anesthesiologist, skilled nurses both in the intensive care unit and on the floor, as well as the physicians and nurses in rehabilitative and physical medicine.
The Endoscopic Endonasal Approach is an advanced surgical method which enables the removal of any tumor or malignant cells through the nose. It is a complicated and multi-disciplinary procedure involving a team of specialists like otolaryngologist, a neurosurgeon, a radiologist, an intensivist, the anesthesiologist etc. In this approach, the tumor in the skull base is reached by directly operating through the nose and the sinuses. This procedure helps in removing large tumors without destroying or disfiguring the shape of the face or skull.
This surgery is performed through the nose or sinuses in order to reach the lesions or tumors located in the base of the skull. It makes use of an endoscopic lens which is specially designed for the viewing and transmitting of internal images. This is associated with the use of highly specialized instruments for the operation procedure to be carried out and the removal of the tumor. It is performed in various top hospitals who have the required instruments and physicians to perform this level of complex operation.
The surgery is performed by a highly specialized multi-disciplinary team of medical professionals which include an otolaryngologist, a neurosurgeon, a radiologist, an intensivist and an anesthesiologist.
These cases usually are scheduled for an entire day. The duration of a case with average complexity may last from about six to ten hours and rarely longer. However, in selected instances, a case must be planned combined with several surgeries planned over a period of several weeks or months.
The patient must go through a thorough diagnosis prior to surgery. Although every patient’s condition is unique, ordinarily the diagnostic tests which are required for the diagnosis and planning of the surgery are
After your surgery, you may be hospitalized until complete recovery. You may be under critical observation ranging from a period of few days to several weeks depending upon your condition. After discharge, you may be required to pay frequent visits to your doctor and undergo several imaging tests.
The length of hospitalization will depend upon the complexity of the disease. On average, the length of stay for a skull base tumor can range between four to ten days. If any problem arises following the operation or there is a need for post-operative rehabilitation, then the hospital stay will be extended. No patient is ever discharged from the hospital until complete recovery is done.
A skull based surgery may cost approximately around four lakhs in India.