Skull base tumor surgery treats neoplasms and degenerative diseases. These diseases affect the juncture between neck and head. Leading skull base neurosurgeon explains the challenges that skull base surgeons face. This is a deeply located and delicate anatomical area. Skull base tumor surgery. Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos, MD. Skull Base Tumor Types and Facts. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Video interview with leading expert in skull base neurosurgery. Treatment for Skull Base Tumors by World-Class neurosurgeon. Tumors of the skull base originate from brain parenchyma. In extensive interview we talk about specific diseases that skull base tumor neurosurgeon treats. They also arise along the nerves that surround the brain. Skull base tumors happen from arteries and veins on the base of the skull. Nasopharyngeal carcinomas are also an example of skull base tumors. Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos, MD. Skull base tumor surgery recovery takes several months. Sinonasal malignancy appears from the paranasal sinuses. Symptoms of skull base tumors relate to obstruction the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Signs include headaches, cranial nerve malfunction, eyesight problems and swallowing problems. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Medical Second Opinion confirms that skull base tumor diagnosis is correct and complete. Medical Second Opinion also helps to choose the best treatment for skull base tumor. Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos, MD. Seek medical second opinion on skull base tumor and be confident that your treatment is the best. Skull base tumor surgery. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. You hold the position of Director of Skull Base Tumor Program at University of California San Francisco. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Could you please define what types of lesions are treated by the skull base neurosurgeons? Please talk about additional neurosurgical treatments that you focus on in your practice. Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos, MD. Sure. The skull base is an interface between the head and neck surgery, and brain surgery. Brain tumors often arise from within the brain parenchyma. Skull base tumors arise along the nerves that surround the brain. Skull base tumors also arise along the linings of the brain. Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos, MD. Tumors also arise along the outer surface of the brain. Skull base tumors also arise from other anatomical structures around the base of the skull. This is the paranasal sinuses and arteries and veins on the base of the skull. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. These lesions are in general benign in their rate of growth. But skull base tumors are debilitating for patients. Because they involve important parts of the brain. Skull base tumors can damage the brainstem and cranial nerves. Cranial nerves move all the various things in our face and eyes. Cranial nerves also make swallowing possible. Skull base tumors also can obstruct the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. There is a subset of skull base tumors that are malignant. True malignancies arise from the face and paranasal sinuses. They extend into the brain. Such skull base tumors are truly the toughest tumors to treat. It is a big broad spectrum of diseases and tumors. I say that it is diseases and not just tumors. Because there are some degenerative processes. They are diseases that involve the base of the skull. Such degenerative diseases thicken the bone. They obstruct cranial nerves. Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos, MD. Cranial nerves go out of the skull through foramina, the holes of the skull. Skull base diseases also can obstruct flow of the arteries that supply the brain. It is not only the tumors. Skull base lesions also include degenerative masses. They arise from the degenerative processes in joints and bony surface along the base of the skull. Skull base tumors and diseases are rare but they happen. This is a spectrum of diseases that we treat along the base of the skull. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. The names of tumors that skull base neurosurgeon treats are these. Pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas. These skull base tumors are the most common tumors. Nasopharyngeal carcinomas are the malignant tumors that skull base neurosurgeon treats. But the list of tumors that skull base neurosurgeons treat includes 50 or more different types of tumors. Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos, MD. Skull base tumor surgery. Video interview with leading expert in skull base neurosurgery. What lesions skull base neurosurgeons treat? Benign malignant tumors.