Skull Base Surgery

Skull Base Surgery in Central Massachusetts 

Treating tumors and conditions affecting the base of the skull requires advanced expertise. At UMass Memorial Health, we bring together skilled specialists from a range of disciplines. They manage your care and operate in the most minimally invasive way possible. Our experience and training allow us to take a precise and delicate approach to complex skull base issues.

What Is Skull Base Surgery?

Skull base surgery is a specialized and minimally invasive surgery used to treat conditions associated with the base of the skull. That includes skull base tumors and other issues affecting the underside of the brain, as well as any sensory nerves and vessels located there.

Treating issues in the base of the skull is challenging. The area is difficult to reach without cutting through the skull or impacting the brain. To address that challenge, we access the skull base in other ways, such as:

• Above and behind the ear
• Through the eyelid
• Through the forehead
• Through the nose

Skull Base Tumors and Conditions We Treat

Our specialized surgeons use the latest surgical techniques and advanced technology to provide comprehensive care for skull base conditions, including:

• Cavernous sinus tumors
• Chiari malformations
• Facial paralysis following temporal bone fracture
• Graves ophthalmopathy
• Infratemporal fossa tumors
• Intraocular malignancies
• Meningiomas
• Oculoplastic reconstruction
• Orbital tumors
• Pituitary tumors
• Recurrent Bell’s palsy
• Tumors of the nose, sinus and nasopharynx
• Spinal fluid leaks
• Vertigo

Our Approach to Skull Base Surgery

Treatment of skull base conditions requires a skilled and knowledgeable team. Skull base treatment may involve:

• Close monitoring, to manage benign tumors
• Minimally invasive surgery, to remove malignant tumors or preserve nerve function
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy before or after surgery to treat malignant tumors

We take a multidisciplinary approach to skull base surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. An ear, nose and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) and a neurosurgeon work together to manage your condition and perform surgery in minimally invasive ways.