Disorders Involving the Jugular Foramen: A Histology-Driven Treatment Strategy

Background The jugular foramen (JF) is the anatomic connection between the endo- and the esocranium. It presents three different tissue layers: the brain parenchyma with a dural layer, the bone of the skull base, and the neurovascular structures at the interface with the neck. Primary tumors originating from the JF are class C jugular paragangliomas, schwannomas, and meningiomas. Tumors involving the JF from adjacent sites are moreover chondrosarcomas, chordomas, endolymphatic sac tumors, metastasis, and malignant tumors with perineural spread from the head and neck district. Surgery is often challenging, and aimed at the balance between the therapy purpose and the intrinsic morbidity of each surgical approach.