Future Perspectives in the Management of Tumors of the Anterior Skull Base.

Abstract

In the coming years, further developments can be expected in the field of diagnosis and management of tumors involving the anterior skull base, and especially malignant tumors of the sinonasal tract, which account for the majority of lesions affecting this anatomic area. Advances in genomics and radiomics will undoubtedly lead to better profiling of tumor biology, with consequent refinement of treatment according to the principles of precision medicine. Similarly, the continuous evolution of morphologic and metabolic imaging will improve the accuracy of pretreatment staging and posttreatment surveillance. Finally, the relentless development of technology in complementary fields (i.e., bioengineering, regenerative medicine, robotics, navigation systems, optical imaging) will refine the safety and accuracy of surgery. As a consequence of these innovations, all healthcare professionals involved in the management of anterior skull base tumors need to consolidate their multidisciplinary efforts for improving the patient's quality of life and survival outcomes. In tandem, hospital administrators and politicians should understand the essential importance of limiting the treatment of these pathologies to "centers of excellence," ensuring an adequate workload and appropriate human and technological resources.