Commentary

The authors are to be commended for their clear demonstration of the value of navigational assistance during the resection of skull base lesions, particularly those associated with complex anatomy and indistinct margins. Their figures (1-6) show excellent resections of fibrous dysplasia and at least one large skull base tumor. Their narrative convinces one that the Stealth™ unit was very helpful in indicating the location, particularly the margins, of the tumor to define the extent of resection. When the margins of tumors are visually distinct, the use of intraoperative navigation may not be so useful. However, in situations like those the authors present-when the edges of the abnormal anatomy are unclear or when critical structures traverse the areas of abnormality-navigational tools are likely to be beneficial, reducing operative time and increasing the safety of surgery.