BACKGROUND Here, we introduced our short experience on the application of a new CUSA Excel ultrasonic aspiration system, which was provided by Integra Lifesciences corporation, in skull base meningiomas resection. METHODS Ten patients with anterior, middle skull base and sphenoid ridge meningioma were operated using the CUSA Excel ultrasonic aspiration system at the Neurosurgery Department of...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Skull base chordomas are clinically malignant because of the difficulty of total removal, high recurrence rate, and occasional drop metastasis. Although aggressive surgical resection and postoperative radiation have been recommended, the long-term outcome remains unsatisfactory. METHODS From 1992 to 2011, we treated 24 patients with skull base chordoma using aggressiv...

A number of tumors and tumor-like non-neoplastic lesions with different cell types on histology occur in the skull base. A wide variety in disease and lesion appearance often complicates the process of radiological diagnosis. The main role of radiographic imaging is the detection and characterization of skull base lesions, with evaluation of the extent of invasion or preservation of adjacent cr...

BACKGROUND Treatment of skull base tumors is challenging due to limited access and presence of important neurovascular structures nearby. The success of a complete tumor resection depends on the extent of tumor exposure and secure field of view. While these tumors are often removed by transcranial endoscopic access, transfacial approach is sometimes required depending on the location and size o...

BACKGROUND Meningiomas are the most commonly diagnosed primary intracranial neoplasms. Despite significant advances in modern therapies, the management of malignant meningioma and skull base meningioma remains a challenge. Thus, the development of new treatment modalities is urgently needed for these difficult-to-treat meningiomas. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential of buil...

We present two cases of unusually large skull base paragangliomas. The first tumor was accompanied by marked bony destruction of the central skull base and multiple associated cysts. The second tumor arose along the petrous ridge, with a large intracranial component. The CT, MR imaging, angiographic, histologic, and electron microscopic findings of these unusual lesions are described.

BACKGROUND Choline is a new PET tracer that is useful for the detection of malignant tumor. Choline is a precursor of the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine, a major phospholipid in the cell membrane of eukaryotic cells. Malignant tumors have an elevated level of phosphatidylcholine in cell membrane. Thus, choline is a marker of tumor malignancy. METHOD The patient was a 51-year-old man with...

We present a rare case of skull base chordoma of extraosseous intradural type that presented as acute intratumoral hemorrhage. Surgical removal of the tumor was accomplished using a skull base approach.