Abstract
Surgical approaches to the lateral skull base are technically challenging due to the highly complex anatomical relationships between pathology and the sensory organ of the inner ear and nearby neurovascular structures. Careful consideration must be given towards these various structures if the risks of neurologic deficit are to be minimised. This review discusses the approaches to the lateral skull base, in particular the more medial areas of the temporal bone (supralabyrinthine, infralabyrinthine, internal auditory canal (IAC), petrous apex and jugular foramen) and adjacent areas (posterior fossa, middle fossa and infratemporal fossa). It outlines the indications and potential risks and benefits of each approach and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to management of pathology.
