Lateral skull base

The lateral skull base is primarily formed by the so-called petrous bone. This is the cranial bone which houses the middle and inner ear.

Therefore, the surgical therapy of tumors of the lateral skull base is ideally performed by physicians who have specialized in ear surgery. Due to their daily work in and around the petrous bone, they are familiar with the hearing organ as well as with the other sensitive structures of the lateral skull base such as the main artery (red), the facial nerve (yellow) and the large venous blood drains (blue) of the brain.