Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (809 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The inferior region of the skull consisting of an internal (cerebral), and an external (basilar) surface.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Base, Skull; Base of Skull; Basicranium; Basis cranii; Cranial Base; Base, Cranial.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 13,717 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Skull Base” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 3,296 of them (24.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 4,499 records.
Reviews account for 1,765 records (12.9%) and meta-analyses for 108. Randomized controlled trials number 50 (0.4%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 3,055 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,867 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,499 |
| 2020 onward | 3,296 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,765 | 12.9% |
| Meta-analyses | 108 | 0.8% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 50 | 0.4% |
Method: PubMed query "Skull Base"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical management for large vestibular schwannomas: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and consensus statement on behalf of the EANS skull base section | 2020 | Meta-analysis Design not recorded in structured metadata | 64 | cc by PMID 32728903 · DOI · PMC7550309 |
| The effect of threshold level on bone segmentation of cranial base structures from CT and CBCT images | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 39 | cc by PMID 32355261 · DOI · PMC7193643 |
| Anatomical study of jugular foramen in the neck | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 16 | cc by PMID 30348503 · DOI · PMC9422587 |
| Pedicled lateral nasal wall flap for endoscopic skull base reconstruction: how I do it | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42142122 · DOI · PMC13346332 |
Surgical management for large vestibular schwannomas: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and consensus statement on behalf of the EANS skull base section [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background and objectiveThe optimal management of large vestibular schwannomas continues to be debated.
- Closing excerpt
- Despite the fact that this analysis yielded only a few Class B evidences and mostly expert opinions, it will guide practitioners to manage these patients and form the basis for future clinical trials.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (290 words)
Background and objectiveThe optimal management of large vestibular schwannomas continues to be debated. We constituted a task force comprising the members of the EANS skull base committee along with international experts to derive recommendations for the management of this problem from a European perspective.Material and methodsA systematic review of MEDLINE database, in compliance with the PRISMA guidelines, was performed. A subgroup analysis screening all surgical series published within the last 20 years (January 2000 to March 2020) was performed. Weighted summary rates for tumor resection, oncological control, and facial nerve preservation were determined using meta-analysis models. This data along with contemporary practice patterns were discussed within the task force to generate consensual recommendations regarding preoperative evaluations, optimal surgical strategy, and follow-up management.ResultsTumor classification grades should be systematically used in the perioperative management of patients, with large vestibular schwannomas (VS) defined as > 30 mm in the largest extrameatal diameter. Grading scales for pre- and postoperative hearing (AAO-HNS or GR) and facial nerve function (HB) are to be used for reporting functional outcome. There is a lack of consensus to support the superiority of any surgical strategy with respect to extent of resection and use of adjuvant radiosurgery. Intraoperative neuromonitoring needs to be routinely used to preserve neural function. Recommendations for postoperative clinico-radiological evaluations have been elucidated based on the surgical strategy employed.ConclusionThe main goal of management of large vestibular schwannomas should focus on maintaining/improving quality of life (QoL), making every attempt at facial/cochlear nerve functional preservation while ensuring optimal oncological control, thereby allowing to meet patient expectations. Despite the fact that this analysis yielded only a few Class B evidences and mostly expert opinions, it will guide practitioners to manage these patients and form the basis for future clinical trials.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32728903 · DOI · PMC7550309
The effect of threshold level on bone segmentation of cranial base structures from CT and CBCT images [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The use of a single grey intensity threshold is one of the most straightforward and widely used methods to segment cranial base surface models from a 3D radiographic volume.
- Closing excerpt
- The present findings highlight the importance of accurate anterior cranial base segmentation for reliable assessment of craniofacial morphology through surface superimposition or similar methods that utilize this anatomical structure as reference.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (185 words)
The use of a single grey intensity threshold is one of the most straightforward and widely used methods to segment cranial base surface models from a 3D radiographic volume. In this study we used thirty Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) scans from three different machines and ten CT scans of growing individuals to test the effect of thresholding on the subsequently produced anterior cranial base surface models. From each scan, six surface models were generated using a range of voxel intensity thresholds. The models were then superimposed on a manually selected reference surface model, using an iterative closest point algorithm. Multivariate tests showed significant effects of the machine type, threshold value, and superimposition on the spatial position and the form of the created models. For both, CT and CBCT machines, the distance between the models, as well as the variation within each threshold category, was consistently increasing with the magnitude of difference between thresholds. The present findings highlight the importance of accurate anterior cranial base segmentation for reliable assessment of craniofacial morphology through surface superimposition or similar methods that utilize this anatomical structure as reference.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32355261 · DOI · PMC7193643
Anatomical study of jugular foramen in the neck [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionThe anatomical complexity of the jugular foramen makes surgical procedures in this region delicate and difficult.
- Closing excerpt
- The petrosal sinus can join the internal jugular vein below the foramen.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (236 words)
IntroductionThe anatomical complexity of the jugular foramen makes surgical procedures in this region delicate and difficult. Due to the advances in surgical techniques, approaches to the jugular foramen became more frequent, requiring improvement of the knowledge of this region anatomy.ObjectiveTo study the anatomy of the jugular foramen, internal jugular vein and glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerves, and to identify the anatomical relationships among these structures in the jugular foramen region and lateral-pharyngeal space.MethodsA total of 60 sides of 30 non-embalmed cadavers were examined few hours after death. The diameters of the jugular foramen and its anatomical relationships were analyzed.ResultsThe diameters of the jugular foramen and internal jugular vein were greater on the right side in most studied specimens. The inferior petrosal sinus ended in the internal jugular vein up to 40mm below the jugular foramen; in 5% of cases. The glossopharyngeal nerve exhibited an intimate anatomical relationship with the styloglossus muscle after exiting the skull, and the vagal nerve had a similar relationship with the hypoglossal nerve. The accessory nerve passed around the internal jugular vein via its anterior wall in 71.7% of cadavers.ConclusionAnatomical variations were found in the dimensions of the jugular foramen and the internal jugular vein, which were larger in size on the right side of most studied bodies; variations also occurred in the trajectory and anatomical relationships of the nerves. The petrosal sinus can join the internal jugular vein below the foramen.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30348503 · DOI · PMC9422587
Pedicled lateral nasal wall flap for endoscopic skull base reconstruction: how I do it [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundThe pedicled nasoseptal flap (Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap, HBF) has been considered as the workhorse for reconstruction of high-flow cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionThe LNWF is a robust intranasal regional flap with a consistent blood supply and comparable coverage surface, making it a reliable alternative when the HBF is unavailable.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (98 words)
BackgroundThe pedicled nasoseptal flap (Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap, HBF) has been considered as the workhorse for reconstruction of high-flow cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. However, if the septal mucosa is affected by a tumor or the vascular pedicle is injured due to prior surgery, the use of HBF is precluded.MethodWe illustrate the harvest techniques of the lateral nasal wall flap (LNWF) based on the posterior lateral nasal artery (PLNA).ConclusionThe LNWF is a robust intranasal regional flap with a consistent blood supply and comparable coverage surface, making it a reliable alternative when the HBF is unavailable.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42142122 · DOI · PMC13346332
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article ICAR: endoscopic skull-base surgery [5]
- Research article Sinonasal Malignancies of Anterior Skull Base: Histology-driven Treatment Strategies [6]
- Research article Transorbital endoscopic approaches to the skull base: a systematic literature review and anatomical description [7]
- Research article Surgery of the lateral skull base: a 50-year endeavour [8]
- Research article Lessons learned in the evolution of endoscopic skull base surgery [9]
- Research article Contemporary management of primary parapharyngeal space tumors [10]
References
- Starnoni D, Giammattei L, Cossu G, Link MJ, Roche PH, Chacko AG, et al.. Surgical management for large vestibular schwannomas: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and consensus statement on behalf of the EANS skull base section. . 2020. PMID 32728903 · DOI · PMC7550309
- Friedli L, Kloukos D, Kanavakis G, Halazonetis D, Gkantidis N. The effect of threshold level on bone segmentation of cranial base structures from CT and CBCT images. . 2020. PMID 32355261 · DOI · PMC7193643
- Freitas CAF, Santos LRMD, Santos AN, Amaral Neto ABD, Brandão LG. Anatomical study of jugular foramen in the neck. . 2020. PMID 30348503 · DOI · PMC9422587
- Huang Z, Ding M, Ma Y, Tong X. Pedicled lateral nasal wall flap for endoscopic skull base reconstruction: how I do it. . 2026. PMID 42142122 · DOI · PMC13346332
- Wang EW, Zanation AM, Gardner PA, Schwartz TH, Eloy JA, Adappa ND, et al.. ICAR: endoscopic skull-base surgery. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2019. PMID 31329374 · DOI
- Castelnuovo P, Turri-Zanoni M, Battaglia P, Antognoni P, Bossi P, Locatelli D. Sinonasal Malignancies of Anterior Skull Base: Histology-driven Treatment Strategies. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2016. PMID 26614837 · DOI
- Vural A, Carobbio ALC, Ferrari M, Ferrari M, Rampinelli V, Schreiber A, et al.. Transorbital endoscopic approaches to the skull base: a systematic literature review and anatomical description. Neurosurg Rev. 2021. PMID 33479806 · DOI · PMC8490260
- Zanoletti E, Mazzoni A, Martini A, Abbritti RV, Albertini R, Alexandre E, et al.. Surgery of the lateral skull base: a 50-year endeavour. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2019. PMID 31130732 · DOI · PMC6540636
- Schwartz TH, Morgenstern PF, Anand VK. Lessons learned in the evolution of endoscopic skull base surgery. J Neurosurg. 2019. PMID 30717035 · DOI
- López F, Suárez C, Vander Poorten V, Mäkitie A, Nixon IJ, Strojan P, et al.. Contemporary management of primary parapharyngeal space tumors. Head Neck. 2019. PMID 30549361 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.