Skull base surgery can be used to remove both cancerous and benign growths and abnormalities on the underside of the brain, or the first few vertebrae of the spinal column. Due to the difficulty in visibility and accessibility in this area, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures may be used for skull base surgery. The field of Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgery has grown over the past ten years, now including the treatment of tumours of the anterior cranial base. The only method to remove growths in this part of the body prior to the development of endoscopic skull base surgery was to create an incision in the skull. This kind of surgery could be required in certain situations.
With the use of endoscopes, endoscopic anterior skull base surgery is a novel approach that allows doctors to reach and treat disorders at the base of the skull. Usually, a little incision is sufficient for this kind of surgery. In order to enable a neurosurgeon to remove a growth using an endoscope—a thin, illuminated tube—they may create a tiny incision within the nose. To ensure that every growth has been eliminated, the surgical specialists may use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a form of imaging test that uses magnets and a computer to take a picture of the base of the skull. Surgeons go into the nasal cavity to address tumours or anomalies located at the anterior base of the skull using specialised devices and high-definition cameras.
In cases when there are tumours, lesions, or anomalies at the base of the skull, the choice to have endoscopic anterior skull base surgery may arise. Tumours that could not previously be treated can now be treated. This surgery is often required to effectively treat conditions including:
To treat these conditions, precise access is necessary with the least amount of harm to the surrounding tissues and systems. This technique’s less invasiveness speeds up healing and lowers the risk of problems following surgery.