Anterior Skull Base Surgery Center

When you are diagnosed with a tumor in your sinuses, nose, pituitary gland, or the frontal lobes of your brain, we understand that you may feel overwhelmed. The idea of having surgery in this delicate area that is home to nerves related to balance, facial movement, hearing, and sight can cause many people to feel anxious or worried. Rest assured that the medical team at NYU Langone’s Anterior Skull Base Surgery Center has the experience and skill to provide you with the best treatment for your condition.

Our program is led by Dr. Chandra Sen and Dr. Richard Lebowitz, who have a combined 40 years of experience focused specifically on using anterior skull base surgery to remove tumors such as meningiomas, pituitary tumors, craniopharyngioma, juvenile angiofibromas, chordomas, and esthesioneuroblastomas. We also treat patients with non-tumorous conditions, such as cerebrospinal fluid fistulas and mucoceles. In all, we perform more than 100 such procedures each year.

The Anterior Skull Base Surgery Center team includes neurosurgeons as well as otolaryngologists, also known as ear, nose, and throat specialists, who are experienced in both open craniotomy and endoscopic endonasal surgery. The craniotomy approach requires opening the skull to perform surgery, a procedure that creates visible incisions and generally requires a longer hospital stay and recovery time.

Many patients qualify for a less invasive approach: endonasal endoscopy. Instead of opening the skull to access the tumor, a tiny camera attached to a long, thin, lighted tube is inserted into the nasal and sinus cavity, so it can relay images of the tumor site to a television screen. The neurosurgeon inserts small tools through the nasal cavity and removes the tumor using those images as a guide. The minimally invasive endoscopic approach means that, unlike open craniotomy surgery, there is no visible scarring, and many patients are back to work within two to six weeks.

For tumors that require radiation therapy, we use Leksell Gamma Knife^® Icon™ radiosurgery, which allows us to deliver targeted, precise doses of radiation therapy to a brain tumor.

During your first visit to the Anterior Skull Base Surgery Center, we review your symptoms, imaging studies such as CT and MRI scans, and any other pertinent test results to assess the best treatment approach for your condition. Depending on your specific problem, your surgeon then refers you for consultation with other members of your healthcare team as necessary, including otolaryngologists, endocrinologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, and neuro-oncologists.

During your treatment, you are cared for by our neurosurgery nursing team that specializes in caring for patients after brain surgery. Most skull base tumors are benign, but if follow-up cancer treatment is required, we connect you with NYU Langone’s Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center. If you need help with walking or balance after surgery, the experts at NYU Langone’s renowned Rusk Rehabilitation can help.

We accept most insurance plans. Our office staff is happy to help you work with your insurance provider to ensure that you get the care you need in a way that is financially viable for you.