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Advances in the management of primary bone sarcomas of the skull base

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Abstract

Skull base primary malignancies represent a heterogeneous group of histologic diagnoses and sarcomas of the skull base are specific malignant tumors that arise from mesenchymal cells and can be classified by site of origin into bony and soft tissue sarcomas. The most common bony sarcomas include: chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, chordoma, Ewing’s sarcoma. Given the relative rarity of each histologic diagnosis, especially in the skull base, there is limited published data to guide the management of patients with skull base sarcomas. An electronic search of the literature was performed to obtain key publications in the management of bony sarcomas of the skull base published within the last decade. This article is thus a review of the multi-disciplinary management principles of primary bony sarcomas of the skull base. Of note, there have been several recent advancements in the realm of skull base sarcoma management that have resulted in improved survival. These include advances in: imaging and diagnostic techniques, surgical techniques that incorporate oncologic surgical principles, conformal radiation paradigms and targeted systemic therapies. Early access to coordinated multi-disciplinary subspecialty care immediately at suspicion of diagnosis has further improved outcomes. There are several ongoing trials in the realms of radiation therapy and systemic therapy that will hopefully provide further insight about the optimal management of bony sarcomas of the skull base.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Idara Edem, Franco DeMonte & Shaan M. Raza

  2. Departments of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Blvd, Rm FC7.2000, Unit 442, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Shaan M. Raza

Authors
  1. Idara Edem
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  2. Franco DeMonte
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  3. Shaan M. Raza
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Contributions

All authors were involved in the conception and design of this review article. IE performed the literature review and wrote the initial version of the manuscript; FD and SR reviewed and updated the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shaan M. Raza.

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Edem, I., DeMonte, F. & Raza, S.M. Advances in the management of primary bone sarcomas of the skull base. J Neurooncol 150, 393–403 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-020-03497-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-020-03497-6

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