Comparison of surgical approaches to the skull base

The surgical accessibility of many complex areas of the base of the skull has expanded rapidly in recent years, as has the literature on these procedures. Several routes to each anatomic region have been described, although little has been written or illustrated comparing and contrasting the different approaches to the skull base. Thirteen representative surgical approaches will be discussed, accompanied by diagrams of accessible anatomic regions. Key features of each procedure will be compared and contrasted. A uniform presentation will be used, showing the incision for each procedure as well as the accessible anatomic areas in three views. Modern imaging techniques permit CT and MR data to be viewed in similar projections, facilitating the choice of surgical procedures.