Skull base surgery is the operative treatment of lesions found at the complex base of the skull. This area is rich in vital, delicate neural and vascular structures such as the cranial nerves and cerebral arteries. Procedures in this area carry a higher than average risk, especially if performed by an inexperienced surgeon.

Wayne State University neurosurgeons are at the forefront of technology which offers a safe and successful means of removing formerly inoperable brain tumors using skull base techniques. Prior to skull base surgical applications, many tumors were considered inaccessible, and therefore inoperable. Our neurosurgical group provides the most comprehensive team of skull base surgery specialists in Michigan. Our highly trained surgeons use specialized techniques and equipment to make each surgery as safe and effective as possible.

Wayne State University neurosurgeons treat patients with a variety of lesions close to the base of the skull. Both benign and malignant tumors are approached via complex paths through the nose, the ear, the face, the orbit of the eye, or the mouth by carefully removing the bone around these structures. This access allows our team to reach difficult areas of the cranium without injuring the brain, it’s nerves, or it’s blood supply.

Outside of the operating room, the multidisciplinary team at Wayne State University offers the most sophisticated and comprehensive care including our dedicated neurosurgical intensive care unit, neuro-oncologists, neuropathologists, and radiation oncologists skilled in stereotactic radiosurgery. Wayne State has access to the only Gamma Knife in the Detroit area.

Working in the Wayne State system, our skull base surgeons have radically improved the chances for cure, shortened the necessary recovery time, and restored normal lifestyles to people who were often left with no hope for treatment.