Cranial Base Tumors

Cranial base tumors arise in, or impinge upon, the bony cranium. They may arise:

• Beneath the cranial base and ascend to it, as in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
• Within the bones of the cranial base, as in acoustic neuromas, glomus tumors, or temporal bone petrous apex cholesterol granulomas.
• Above the cranial base, and extend interiorly to involve the cranial base through bony erosion, as in meningiomas, chordomas or sarcomas.

Surgical treatment approaches for cranial base tumor patients include anterior, middle and posterior fossa craniotomies, craniofacial resections, and craniotomies through the temporal bone (translabyrinthine, transcochlear and infratemporal fossa). Additionally, transcervical and transfacial routes are often employed.

Multichannel Intraoperative Neural Monitoring

Our Cranial Base Surgery Consortium utilizes sophisticated intraoperative neural monitoring technology to maximize postoperative cranial nerve function. Simultaneous four-channel cranial nerve monitoring is individually adapted to each specific surgery. Motor nerve monitoring through electromyography, as well as sensory monitoring of Auditory Brain Stem Evoked Responses (ABR) and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP), are capabilities of this technology. Our physician neurophysiologists in the operating room during surgery also play an integral role in intraoperative patient care.

200-Year Tradition of Excellence

Although the field of cranial base surgery has only recently evolved, our medical center boasts a 200-year tradition of excellence in patient care, education and leadership. Weill Cornell Medicine patients continue to benefit from our institution’s high success rates, peerless education system and preeminent physicianship.