Skull Base Surgery Education & Research | NYU Langone Health

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Department of Neurosurgery Divisions & Specialties Skull Base Surgery Education & Research

Skull Base Surgery Education & Research

The Department of Neurosurgery offers expertise in surgical treatment for people who have tumors at the base of the skull. Under the direction of Chandra Sen, MD, neurosurgery residents and visiting doctors have the opportunity to train with our world-renowned faculty in the skull base surgery program at NYU Langone Health. We perform more than 200 surgeries each year and have garnered an international reputation for taking on the most challenging cases.

Our team works closely with the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery to perform a variety of operations, and trainees rotating through the Lateral Skull Base Surgery Program learn more about the treatment and management of lateral skull base disorders.

Skull Base Surgery Education

At the Anterior Skull Base Surgery Center, residents gain hands-on experience in removing tumors such as meningiomas, pituitary tumors, craniopharyngiomas, juvenile angiofibromas, chordomas, and esthesioneuroblastomas. They also have the opportunity to treat patients with nontumorous conditions, such as cerebrospinal fluid fistulas and mucoceles.

All neurosurgery residents gain valuable exposure to skull base surgery during their time at NYU Langone. We host educational seminars a few times each year, where we present new approaches to difficult cases. These seminars are attended by neurosurgery faculty, residents, and fellows. We also participate in departmental rounds and conferences. Human cadaver dissection courses, mentored by team members from the Departments of Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, take place twice a year and allow residents to learn and practice procedures.

Education for Visiting International Neurosurgeons

Each year, we host neurosurgeons from around the world who are especially interested in learning new techniques in skull base surgery. We offer three- to six-month rotations under the guidance of Dr. Sen, during which visiting neurosurgeons spend time observing in the outpatient setting as well as in the operating rooms. They are able to observe the treatment of skull base tumors through surgical and minimally invasive approaches. This opportunity for close interaction with our skull base surgery team gives international neurosurgeons insights into the treatments practiced at NYU Langone that they can employ when they return to their home countries.

Skull Base Surgery Research

Skull base clinical research in the Department of Neurosurgery focuses on reducing complications from both traditional and radiosurgery approaches to treating skull base tumors. We are also interested in investigating the epigenetic markers of meningioma, identifying targeted treatments, and refining treatment options. Other tumors such as skull base chordomas are also being investigated in the laboratory.

Contact Us

To learn more about educational and research opportunities in skull base surgery, please contact Dr. Sen at chandra.sen@nyulangone.org.