Skull Base Surgeon in Ahmedabad

What does a skull base surgeon do?

A skull base surgeon diagnoses and operates on tumours and other lesions at the junction between the brain and the face, nose, sinuses, ears and neck. The field sits between several traditional specialties: ENT and head and neck surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and maxillofacial surgery. A head and neck skull base surgeon such as Dr. Parin Patel brings the oncological principles of complete, margin-controlled removal to this region, and the reconstructive skills to rebuild it, while working with a neurosurgeon for the intracranial component of each case.

The work spans two very different techniques: minimally invasive endoscopic surgery through the nose, and open approaches through the face, scalp or side of the head for tumours that the endoscope cannot reach safely. A surgeon trained in both can recommend the right one, rather than the only one available. The full range of approaches is described on our skull base surgery page.

Conditions a skull base surgeon treats

When should you see a skull base surgeon?

• A scan has shown a tumour or mass at the base of the skull, in the sinuses, the pituitary region or behind the nose
• One-sided nasal blockage, bleeding or loss of smell that has not responded to treatment
• Progressive visual loss, double vision or a displaced eye
• Facial numbness, pain or weakness with no other explanation
• One-sided hearing loss or a pulsing sound in the ear
• A cancer of the mouth, sinus or salivary gland that is reported to extend towards the skull base
• Clear fluid dripping from the nose
• A previous skull base operation with residual or recurrent tumour

Dr. Parin Patel's skull base training

1. 01

   MS in Otorhinolaryngology (2011)

   Core surgical training in the ear, nose, throat and neck at M.P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, laying the foundation in sinonasal and temporal bone anatomy.

2. 02

   Fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology (2013–15)

   Two years of dedicated cancer surgery training at Rajkot Cancer Society Hospital, in the oncological principles that distinguish a cancer operation from a simple removal.

3. 03

   Consultant at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre (2016 onwards)

   More than a decade of head and neck surgical oncology in Ahmedabad, including the compartment clearance work recognised with the FHNO gold medal in 2018.

4. 04

   Skull Base Surgery Fellowship, Tata Memorial Centre (2021–22)

   Advanced training in endoscopic and open skull base surgery at one of India's highest-volume cancer centres, working within a multidisciplinary skull base team.

Full details are on the about page.

The skull base team at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre

No skull base surgeon works alone. At HCG Aastha Cancer Centre, Dr. Patel operates with a neurosurgical partner for intracranial extension, and plans each case with neuroradiology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, radiation oncology, medical oncology and anaesthesia. The operating rooms are equipped with image-guided navigation, intraoperative nerve monitoring, high-definition endoscopy, the operating microscope and micro-Doppler, and interventional radiology is available for pre-operative embolisation of vascular tumours. Post-operative care includes a monitored unit and access to reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation when needed.

Choosing a skull base surgeon: what to ask

• Have you completed formal fellowship training in skull base surgery?
• Are you able to offer both endoscopic and open approaches, and which do you recommend for my tumour, and why?
• Who else will be in the operating room, and is a neurosurgeon part of the team?
• What are the specific risks to my vision, face, hearing and hormones, and how are they minimised?
• How will the skull base be reconstructed, and what is the risk of a fluid leak?
• Will I need radiotherapy afterwards, and who will coordinate it?

Our article how endoscopic skull base surgery is changing modern surgical care gives further background for patients weighing their options.

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