Anterior Skull Base: Imaging

Abstract

In recent decades, technological advances in clinical diagnosis, preoperative imaging, neurophysiological monitoring, intraoperative microscopy, and multispecialty surgery employing minimally invasive techniques and guidance have advanced the frontiers of the management of skull base pathologies. Current therapeutic techniques include surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. For a successful therapeutic outcome, accurate identification of skull base pathology and care in the subsequent planning of treatment and posttreatment therapy are essential. In all these instances, the choice of imaging modalities and the implementation of this diagnostic entity become critical in properly dealing with patients afflicted with skull base pathologic entities. Imaging is key for assessment, as this region is difficult to evaluate clinically. Imaging allows preoperative tumor staging, identification of characteristics that can lead to the correct diagnosis, and determination of local tumor extent and invasion. It can provide a road map while also determining the surgical approach and evaluating for tumor recurrence.