ABSTRACT
Patients with lesions of the skull base can present in a variety of ways - their presentation in combination with clinical exam and imaging findings will determine the course of treatment. With the increased imaging, some patients may be referred with an incidentally found tumor. More commonly they will have symptoms referable to the tumor. In contrast to these general symptoms, another subset of symptoms is specific to tumor location; if cranial nerve deficits are present, they can help localize the tumor. Endocrinopathies can also occur with tumors of the skull base. The abnormal over- or underproduction of hormones can cause significant morbidity and mortality; thus, vigilance is important for early detection and treatment. Usually a patient will be referred with imaging studies demonstrating an intracranial lesion. Most surgeons will require magnetic resonance imaging with and without contrast for surgical planning; additional sequences may be requested depending on tumor type and location.
