Proton Therapy for Tumors of the Skull Base
Treat Base of Skull Tumors With Proton Therapy
Skull base tumors are a rare type of cancer that can develop in various types of tissues, including bone, cartilage and nerves, and they can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Symptoms of base of skull cancer can vary depending on the location and size of the tumor, but they may include headache, facial pain or numbness, double vision, hearing loss, difficulty swallowing, or changes in voice.
The close proximity to critical structures, such as the brainstem, optic nerves and spinal cord, makes precise targeting of the tumor a critical factor in treatment. With proton therapy, a concentrated dose of radiation is applied to the tumor that has formed at the skull’s base or top of the spinal cord, limiting harm to the vital, healthy tissue surrounding it.
Comparison image – Proton Therapy is on the left, Photon Therapy is on the right
The Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC) Uses Proton Therapy to Treat a Variety of Cancers in the Skull Base:
Benign Skull Base Tumors:
- Acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas)
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma
- Glomus tumors
- Meningiomas
- Neuromas (trigeminal neuromas, vagal schwannomas)
- Neurofibromas
- Pituitary adenoma
- Craniopharyngiomas
