Stereotactic approach to skull-base lesions

With improved knowledge of the anatomy and increased collaboration between the neurosurgeon and the otolaryngologist, successful surgical resection of skull-based tumors is being achieved with reduced mortality and morbidity. In spite of this, there remains a group of patients in whom an alternate surgical approach of stereotaxis may be indicated. This group of patients includes those in whom only biopsy is required, or those in whom brachytherapy using high-intensity (125)I is planned because the patients' general condition is not good enough to undergo open surgical resection of the tumor or the tumor is unresectable or the patient refuses open surgery. This article presents a preliminary report on stereotactic approach to skull base lesions with special emphasis on the technique.