Surgical strategy for skull base meningiomas

Skull base meningiomas may involve the cranial nerves, main vessels and vital brain structures. Because the biological behavior of skull base meningiomas is the same as for meningiomas at common locations, the ideal management of skull base meningiomas is total resection with dural attachment. However, radical resection is impossible or not preferable because of the risk of severe operative complications in some cases. The goal of skull base meningioma removal should be determined in each case based on a precise analysis of the meningioma's extension pattern.