Cranial base surgery: results in 183 patients

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Oncology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Skull base afflictions encompass a range of conditions including malignant and benign tumors, congenital malformations, inflammatory lesions, and traumatic defects.
• Effective surgical management of these complex pathologies is crucial for patient survival and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of cranial base surgery for diverse skull base pathologies.
• To assess survival rates, complication rates, and functional status following cranial base surgery.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cohort study was conducted with 183 patients undergoing cranial base surgery.
• Patients included those with malignant tumors (n=118), benign tumors (n=50), congenital malformations (n=9), inflammatory lesions (n=3), and traumatic defects (n=3).
• Follow-up averaged 30 months, with outcomes including disease-free interval, overall survival, complication rates, and functional status (Karnofsky performance score).

Main Results:

• The overall cancer survival rate was 67%, with 63% showing no evidence of disease.
• For benign neoplasms, 72% had no evidence of disease at a mean follow-up of 39 months.
• Successful correction was observed in patients with congenital malformations, inflammatory, and traumatic lesions. Overall surgical-medical mortality was 2%, complication rate was 33%, and 83% of patients had improved or unchanged functional status.

Conclusions:

• Cranial base surgery is a validated and effective treatment modality for a spectrum of cranial base pathologies.
• The procedure demonstrates significant benefits in controlling both benign and malignant diseases.
• It is considered the treatment of choice for selected cases of congenital malformations, trauma, and inflammatory lesions of the skull base.