Objective : Skull base tumors frequently encase or extend into vital neurovascular structures.
Preoperative planning and intraoperative identification of anatomic landmarks is important in
complex tumors since it helps avoid or minimize surgical morbidity. The purpose of this
study was to describe the usefulness of recent advances of neuronavigation technology in
the management of skull base tumors.
Patients and Methods : From March 2006 to May 2008, 32 patients underwent
neuronavigation-assisted surgery for skull base tumors. A Stryker Leibinger system was
used for neuronavigation.
Results : The use of neuronavigation was beneficial both pre-and intraoperatively. Gross total
removal of the skull base tumors was accomplished in 29 out of 32 patients who were
confirmed with postoperative CT and MRI scans. All tumors were removed completely as
judged by intraoperative inspection in all patients except for three. The morbidity rates
(18.8%) were different depending on the performed surgical approaches.
Conclusions : Image guidance facilitates complex approaches to various pathologies and
enables mapping of skull base anatomy, especially during translesional dissection of
complex tumors distorting and invading the neurovascular and osseous structures.
Neuronavigation will enhance the efficacy and safety of skull base surgery. Skull base
surgery is the best target for it because of the minimum possible brain shift.