The skull is made from bone and cartilage which forms the face and cranium (what surrounds and protects the brain). Skull base surgery is a treatment option used to address growths or abnormalities with the skull that is causing health conditions. This includes cysts, tumors, growths produced by infections, and cerebrospinal fluid. These growths can produce symptoms including facial pain, dizziness, visual challenges, facial paralysis, hearing loss, and headaches.
To diagnose growths or abnormalities that require skull base surgery, we use different imaging tests. This includes brain imaging tests like MRIs, MRAs, and CT scans which provide pictures of the skull. Other tests could include balance, hearing, and vision evaluations. Skull base surgery can be conducted endoscopically which is minimally invasive. Most commonly, it involves making a small incision in the nose, inserting an endoscope, a thin tube with a camera, and using medical instruments to remove the growth.