Molecular pathogenesis of skull base tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To review contemporary molecular biological literature related to skull base tumor biology and tumorigenesis.


METHODS
PUBMED and Ovid literature searches were performed using keyword search. Only English language articles published between 1965 and December 4, 2003 were chosen.


METHODS
All relevant articles from the past 8 years, as well as landmark articles in years before 1995, were retrieved and reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent progress is being made toward the molecular genetic and biological basis of the most common skull base tumors. An understanding of these mechanisms will aid the neurotologist in future diagnosis and management of the lesions.
Patel
Nirmal P
NP
Laboratory of Molecular Otology, Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Mhatre
Anand N
AN
Lalwani
Anil K
AK
D002817:Chordoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008579:Meningioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D016518:Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D006623:von Hippel-Lindau Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy