Tumors of the Skull Including Chordoma

Tumors of the skull span a wide variety of entities, ranging from inflammatory diseases to neoplastic lesions with osteoma and hemangioma as the most common benign and chondrosarcoma and multiple myeloma as the most common primary malignant bone tumors. The incidence of secondary malignant bone tumors steadily increases due to the extended survival of cancer patients. Histopathologically, primary bone tumors evolve of bony, cartilaginous, notochord, fibrous, histiocytic, or hematological origin and can be found in any part of the skull. The clinical presentation usually relates to the site of space occupation with varying symptoms. Complimentary MRI and CT are essential for the differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and surveillance of any skull tumor. Total surgical resection followed by cranioplasty of the bone defect is regarded the standard treatment for benign and locally aggressive malignant tumors of the skull and enable excellent prognosis. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be indicated as adjuvant options in the case of metastatic or incompletely resected or recurrent tumors. Recent developments in radiation techniques by proton beam, carbon ion, as well as Gamma Knife and CyberKnife radiosurgery to increase the applied radiation dosage while sparing critical tissue may enhance the local control of nonresectable or recurrent bone tumors.