The many types of skull base tumors and conditions are classified by the type of tumor and its location in the skull base.

Location of skull base tumors:

Certain tumors and conditions tend to occur in specific areas of the skull base. The three main regions of the skull base and the tumors and conditions that occur there most commonly are:

Anterior compartment of the skull base (anterior cranial fossa), which contains the eye sockets and sinuses:

• Meningioma
• Olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma)
• Paranasal sinus cancer

Central compartment of the skull base (middle cranial fossa), which contains the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is about the size of a pea and is located in the sella turcica (saddle-shaped bony structure in the sphenoid bone):

• Sellar tumors:
  • Pituitary adenomas
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Rathke’s cleft cyst

Posterior compartment of the skull base (posterior cranial fossa):

• Acoustic neuroma
• Chondrosarcoma
• Chordoma
• Epidermoid tumor
• Meningioma

Types of skull base tumors and conditions:

To make an appointment or request a consultation, contact the Johns Hopkins Skull Base Tumor Center at 410-614-0585.