Vascular lesions of the cranial base.

Vascular lesions can be classified broadly into two groups on the basis of cellular proliferation characteristics: hemangiomas and vascular malformations. Additional lesions include a heterogeneous group of vascular tumors such as those represented by hemangiopericytoma and those with a frankly malignant course. Those lesions located around the cranial base remain challenging and difficult clinical problems. The care of patients with these problems is complex; it frequently will need a full spectrum of individuals from many disciplines involved in many diverse aspects of management: medical, radiologic, anesthetic, and surgical. Fortunately, advances in science and technology have markedly expanded our capability in treating these patients and have allowed us increasing safety and ease in dealing with previously untreatable and unresectable lesions.