Skull Base Tumors
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Learning that you have a tumor at the base of your skull can be scary, but Columbia's multidisciplinary team can help. At our world-class Brain Tumor Center, we offer care for the following cancerous tumors:
Esthesioneuroblastomas
An esthesioneuroblastoma, also known as an olfactory neuroblastoma, is a rare cancerous tumor that forms from the cells that are responsible for the sense of smell. These tumors are a rare form of sinonasal cancer, and they can grow up into the brain or down into the nose and sinuses.
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Chordomas
A chordoma is a rare cancerous bone tumor that can affect the bone of the base of the skull and any region of the spine. About one-third of chordomas develop where the bottom of the skull meets the top of the spine in a bone called the clivus. Chordomas grow slowly and are typically diagnosed in older age.
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Vascular Tumors
Vascular tumors are typically malformations of blood or lymph vessels. These tumors can disrupt the surrounding skull base structures as they expand, causing a person to experience a range of symptoms. Hemangiomas, lymphangiomas, and cavernous hemangiomas are classified as vascular tumors.
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Orbital Tumors
Tumors that grow in the back of the orbit (the eye socket) can often be accessed best by going through the nose with endoscopic surgery. These tumors are often managed by a team including Otolaryngology (ENT), Ophthalmology, and Neurosurgery.
Meningiomas
A meningioma is a type of tumor that is composed of the protective layers around the brain, called the meninges. These tumors usually grow slowly and are often diagnosed in middle age. They are rarely cancerous; however, their size can cause disruptive symptoms when the tumor compresses other skull base structures.
Craniopharyngioma
A craniopharyngioma is a rare benign tumor with cystic components that grows near the pituitary gland, the optic nerves, and the hypothalamus at the bottom of the brain. As these tumors expand, they can compress the pituitary gland and surrounding structures like the optic nerve pathways, causing hormonal and visual changes.
Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)
An acoustic neuroma, also known as a vestibular schwannoma, is a benign tumor that arises from the protective layers of nerves in the brain. Typically, these tumors affect cranial nerve eight (acoustic or vestibulocochlear nerve). Although these tumors are benign, their location can cause damage to important surrounding structures of the skull base, as well as debilitating symptoms to the affected person.