ABSTRACT
The skull base is an interface between the facial skeleton and the cranial cavity. The floor of the cranial cavity is divided into anterior, middle and posterior cranial fossae. Options are conservative treatment, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in combined or sequential order. The best outcome for a benign tumour is complete excision. However, if complete excision involves increased morbidity, for example, invasion into the cavernous sinus/orbital apex, then subtotal excision and subsequent radiation treatment for the residuum provide a good compromise to maintain the patient’s quality of life. Endoscopic endonasal approaches have been organised in modules based on anatomical corridors and described in relationship to the sagittal and coronal planes. Endoscopic tumour resection uses the same principles as surgery through an operating microscope: internal debulking, capsular mobilisation, extracapsular dissection of neurovascular structures, coagulation and removal of the capsule.
