Dr. Bartels of the Tampa Bay Hearing and Balance Center has operated over 400 acoustic neuromas, approximately 500 hundred skull base tumors total.
The most common skull base tumor is acoustic neuroma. A variety of other tumors may affect the ear and surrounding skull base, and adjacent brain. Skull base tumor management commonly, but not always requires extensive surgery. In cooperation with other specialists, observation and specialized radiotherapy and other adjunctive modalities may be considered.
Other specialty disciplines with which Dr. Bartels works include neurosurgery, critical care medicine, interventional radiology, radiotherapy, oncology, cardiology, and others. For patients coming from some distance, coordinated appointments with other specialists can be arranged by the Tampa Bay Hearing and Balance Center staff. First and foremost, Dr. Bartels reviews the patient obtaining a detailed history, performing a pertinent physical examination, and spending up to an hour or more reviewing diagnostic information, alternatives in management, risks of each, perioperative care, and social issues. Not all skull base tumors need surgery and which option is best for one patient might not fit for another.