Cranial Base Tumor Center
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
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Cranial base tumors occur at the border between Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology and therefore benefit from a multidisciplinary approach. Acoutic neuroma is the most common type of cranial base tumor. It occurs in the cerebellopontine angle and is thus is also the most common of the cerebellopontine angle (cpa) tumors. There are a number of other types of tumors affecting the skull base including other tumors of the cerebellopontine angle and jugular foramen such as meningiomas, schwannomas and glomus jugulare tumors. Other tumors affecting the cranial base include neoplasms (carcinoma) of the nasal and sinus cavities and nasopharynx, cranial nerve neoplasms such as trigeminal schwannoma, meningiomas involving the orbit, frontal fossa, sphenoid wings and cavernous sinus, other tumors of the orbit and cavernous sinus, as well as bone tumors such as chordoma, chondrosarcoma and fibrous dysplasia and lesions of the petrous apex including cholesterol granulomas and cholesteatomas The treatment of cranial base tumors at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, and Radiation Oncology. Quality of life is further enhanced by the participation members of the Neuro-ophthalmology, Neuro-endocrinolgy, Neuro-radiology and Neuro-pathology Sections and the Speech and Occupational Therapy Department when appropriate. Surgical treatments including multidisciplinary team surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife) are
special areas of expertise in the Cranial Base Tumor Center. Members of the Center are also pioneers in delivering
fractionated radiation to pituitary cranial base tumors using three-dimensional treatment planning; this minimizes
the radiaition dose to normal brain and nerves. Interventional neuroradiology is also available for tumor intravascular
tumor embolization. In addition, cytotoxic chemotherapy plays a role in the treatment of some cranial base tumors. Cranial Base Tumor ReferralsPhysicians may refer patients to the Cranial Base Tumor Center by contacting the Physicians Access Line at any time or by contacting the offices of any of the Center members listed below. Patients may be referred for consultation only, care in partnership with referring physician, or complete management. Patients or families may refer inquiries regarding pituitary disorders to theWake Forest University Baptist Medical Center's Health On-Call Service. Members:NeurosurgeryJohn A. Wilson, M.D. Radiation MedicineEdward G. Shaw, M.D., Chairman OtolaryngologyInterventional Neuroradiology Pathology Neuroradiology
Neuro-Ophthalmology
For more information about the treatment of cranial (skull) base tumors see the links below.
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