Cranial Base Center
Cranial base tumors occur at the border between Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology and therefore benefit from a multidisciplinary approach.
Acoustic neuroma is the most common type of cranial base tumor. It occurs in the cerebellopontine angle and is thus is also the most common of the cerebellopontine angle (cpa) tumors. There are a number of other types of tumors affecting the skull base including other tumors of the cerebellopontine angle and jugular foramen such as meningiomas, schwannomas and glomus jugulare tumors. Other tumors affecting the cranial base include neoplasms (carcinoma) of the nasal and sinus cavities and nasopharynx, cranial nerve neoplasms such as trigeminal schwannoma, meningiomas involving the orbit, frontal fossa, sphenoid wings and cavernous sinus, other tumors of the orbit and cavernous sinus, as well as bone tumors such as chordoma, chondrosarcoma and fibrous dysplasia and lesions of the petrous apex including cholesterol granulomas and cholesteatomas.
The treatment of cranial base tumors at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, and Radiation Oncology. Quality of life is further enhanced by the participation members of the Neuro-ophthalmology, Neuro-endocrinolgy, Neuro-radiology and Neuro-pathology Sections and the Speech and Occupational Therapy Department when appropriate.
Surgical treatments including multidisciplinary team surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife) are special areas of expertise in the Cranial Base Tumor Center. Members of the Center are also pioneers in delivering fractionated radiation to pituitary cranial base tumors using three-dimensional treatment planning; this minimizes the radiaition dose to normal brain and nerves. Interventional neuroradiology is also available for tumor intravascular tumor embolization. In addition, cytotoxic chemotherapy plays a role in the treatment of some cranial base tumors.
For more information about how you can contribute to the cure for skull base tumors like acoustic neuroma click here.
Cranial Base Tumor Referrals
Physicians may refer patients to the Cranial Base Tumor Center by contacting the Physicians Access Line at any time or by contacting the offices of any of the Center members listed below. Patients may be referred for consultation only, care in partnership with referring physician, or complete management.
Patients or families may refer inquiries regarding pituitary disorders to the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center's Health On-Call Service.
Members:
Neurosurgery
John A. Wilson, M.D.
Stephen B, Tatter, M.D., Ph.D.
Thomas L. Ellis, M.D.
Steven S. Glazier, M.D.
David L. Kelly, Jr., M.D.
Charles L. Branch, Jr., M.D., Chairman
Radiation Medicine
Edward G. Shaw, M.D., Chairman
Kevin P. McMullen, M.D.
Kathryn M. Greven, M.D.
Otolaryngology
J. Dale Browne, M.D
John May, M.D.
Interventional Neuroradiology
P. Pearse Morris M.B., B.Ch.
Michael D. Baker, M.D.
Pathology
Constance A. Stanton, M.D.
Neuroradiology
Allen D. Elster, M.D.
Dixon M. Moody, M.D.
Daniel W. Williams III, M.D.
Jonathan H. Burdette, M.D.
Joseph A. Maldjian, M.D.
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Timothy J. Martin, M.D.
For more information about the treatment of cranial (skull) base tumors see the links below.