University of Washington neurosurgeons and neuro-otologists talk about working together to perform surgeries in a complex area of the cranium. Acoustic neuromas are tumors that grow in the...
========== [MUSIC]NARRATOR: "TUMOR" IS ONE OF THE
MOST FRIGHTENING WORDS A DOCTOR
CAN SAY TO A PATIENT.AND WHEN A TUMOR IS IN SOMEONE'S
SKULL BASE, IT'S EVEN MORE
UNPLEASANT.THE ANATOMY OF THE SKULL BASE
IS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING,AND THE SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS
ARE VERY SENSITIVE,SO THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO ROOM FOR
ERROR.NARRATOR:
THE SKULL BASE IS THE AREA
BELOW THE BRAIN, BUT STILL
WITHIN THE SKULL.IT CONTAINS THE BONES AROUND THE
EYES, THE EAR CANALS,SOME MAJOR ARTERIES, AND TWELVE
CRANIAL NERVES.IT'S A VERY COMPLEX
AREA BECAUSE ALL THE
BLOOD VESSELSTHAT SUPPLY THE BRAIN
AND ALL THE NERVES
THAT COME FROM THE BRAINTO THE TISSUES TRAVEL THROUGH
VARIOUS OPENINGS THROUGH THE
SKULL BASE TO GET TO THOSE
AREAS.SO, WHEN WE'RE ...
