Dear Fellow Member:

It is both an honor and privilege for me to serve as your President this year and to follow in the footsteps of my many colleagues who have helped to shape and mould this Society as it enters its 16th year. Like all Organizations, we are continually challenged to review its Goals and Objectives and to make changes that will help to further enhance our Mission.

Our new management firm, Drohan Management Group have helped significantly over this past year to effect change, improve communication and revitalize/modernize the Society’s business. A combination of their management skills, attention to detail, along with the leadership qualities of our Past President, Dr. Jatin Shah, resulted in a very successful meeting in New Orleans.

In addition, the Pre-Conference Practical Workshop coordinated by Drs. Saleem Abdulrauf and Daniel Nuss featuring master demonstration and cadaver dissections was very highly rated and enjoyed by all the participants. However, the feedback from Faculty and students revealed that the combination of a Workshop and Meeting was too lengthy. Your Board at its Council Meeting held in Chicago September 11, 2004 has agreed to modify this year’s annual meeting by eliminating the Workshop. However, it has been decided that the Workshop will be scheduled at a separate time from the Annual Meeting.

This year’s Program Committee Co-Chaired by Drs. Carl Heilman and Peter Neligan, is introducing some new and innovative modifications including touch pad interactive sessions, great debates on controversial topics, increased focus on minimal access surgery and neurotology. In addition, an update of new technology and innovative developments will be presented by Dr. Carl Heilman after he receives feedback from the appropriate Corporations.

The Research Committee reactivated by Dr. Jatin Shah last year is in the final stages of completing a protocol that will be circulated to you – the membership for approval and involvement. The combined efforts of Dr. Ehab Hanna (Research Chair) and Dr. Sandeep Samant are to be applauded for their work in completing this most important Research Protocol. This study will attempt to examine the outcome of patients with advanced squamous cell cancer of the sinuses invading the skull base treated with chemo/radiation and surgery.

Volume 2 Issue 1

. . . continued on page 2

President’s Message

N O R T H A M E R I C A N S K U L L B A S E S O C I E T Y

Winter 2005

2NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

President Patrick J. GullanePhone: 416-340-4853E–mail: patrick.gullane@uhn.on.ca

The newsletter is published by North American Skull Base Society. Address sub-missions and comments to Editor, NASBS,12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 130, Reston, VA 20190. Editor DR. Carl Heilman

Executive DirectorKathy HoskinsPhone: (703)234-4149E–mail: info@nasbs.org

North American Skull Base Society, 12100 Sunset Hills Road Suite 130 Reston, Virginia 20190 (703)234-4149 FAX (703)435-4390 www.nasbs.org

Inside This Issue

President’s Message Cover

Senior Resident Workshop 3

Database on Craniofacial Surgery 4

Sponsor Trial Evaluating 4

Invitation to Exhibit 5

NASBS Officers 5

Membership Application 6

With an increased interest and globalization of Skull Base Surgery, the Society’s Board approved the introduction of an “International Membership Category” to further embrace our overseas colleagues. Interest in this category of membership is very encouraging to date.

On a personal note, I am indebted to Dr. Carl Heilman for editing this Newsletter which in hard copy form helps to further maintain communication of the Society’s activities.

Finally, Toronto April 7-10, 2005 will combine a perfect venue with outstanding “Canadian Hospitality” and a very intense 2.5 day Academic Program that will include a variety of topics of interest to all the membership.

In conclusion, I feel honored to lead this dynamic Society and welcome your support in further enhancing its Mission

With best wishes

Patrick Gullane, MDPresident

President’s Message. . . continued from front cover

17th Annual MeetingFebruary 16 - 19, 2006 • Phoenix, Arizona • Pointe South Moutain Resort

Upcoming Events

3 NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

NASBS Skull Base Course for Senior Residents

The First Combined Skull Base Surgery Course for neurosurgical chief residents and head and neck surgery fellows was held on July 30 – August 1, 2004 at the Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) in Memphis, Tennessee. Thirty neurosurgical chief residents and 15 head and neck oncology fellows attended the course from across the United States and Canada. The course was the first one of its kind to jointly address physicians from both disciplines in one forum. This is the third time the NASBS has sponsored a course for senior neurosurgery residents.

The program, spanning over the two-and-a-half day period, covered the entire spectrum of skull base surgery. Each half-day session focused on a specific portion of the skull base, beginning with a superb demonstration of anatomy in 3-dimensional projection by Professor Albert L.Rhoton, Jr. from Gainesville, Florida. This was followed by discussion of surgical principles and nuances of surgical techniques by the invited faculty and then cadaveric dissection in the laboratory.

The Medical Education and Research Institute is a state-of-the-art biotech research facility that is used by the medical device industry, Semmes Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Campbell Clinic as well as other academic organizations for product development and educational courses all year round. The dissection stations were equipped with powered instrumentation, operating microscopes, endoscopes with video display, computer-assisted navigation and plating systems.

The course was organized by Jon Robertson, Professor and Chairman of Neurosurgery at Memphis, who was assisted by Sandeep Samant, from the Division of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Tennessee Health

Sciences Center. Professor Patrick Gullane, the current President of the Society, was there to address the participants and extend an invitation to the 16th Annual Meeting in Toronto. The lively interaction between head and neck surgeons and neurosurgeons ended up to

be one of the main attractions of the course. Albert Rhoton, Jr., Saleem Abdulrauf, Carl Heilman, Thomas Origitano, John Golfinos and Jon Robertson were the faculty for Neurosurgery. From Otolaryngology, Carl Snyderman, Sam Marzo, Patrick Gullane, Bruce MacDonald, Rick Chandra and Sandeep Samant participated.

The course was made possible by generous educational grants and extensive personnel support from Medtronic Midas Rex, Stryker, Zeiss and Karl Storz.

4NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

North American Skull Base Society Database on Craniofacial Surgery

The NASBS is working on developing a tumor database software program for craniofacial surgery. This database program is being designed using Microsoft Access. The process to date has involved extensive software programming in order to provide the user drop-down menus for accurate and easy collection of information. A multitude of data collection will be available such as patient related information, medical comorbidity, previous therapy, pre-treatment imaging, tumor data including TNM staging for each individual anatomic site, details of the surgical procedure, pathology, adjuvant postoperative therapy, disease control after therapy, and follow-up status. The prototype database is ready and has been recently beta-tested. This has identified design and programming issues that are currently being worked out. We plan to test the software extensively for both user-friendliness and reliability before releasing it. Our anticipation is that the first version of the software will be available for NASBS members by the end of the year.

North American Skull Base Society to Sponsor Trial Evaluating Chemoradiation Followed by Surgery for Advanced Paranasal Sinus Cancer

Currently, the standard treatment for advanced cancer of the paranasal sinuses includes radical surgery followed by postoperative radiation. Frequently, this amounts to a total maxillectomy or a craniofacial resection with or without a complete obliteration of the contents of the orbit. These operations result in significant disfigurement and impairment of function. Despite such radical therapy, the oncologic outcomes of survival and disease control are poor.

A new multi-institutional trial will soon be under way to evaluate an alternative treatment paradigm. Based on favorable preliminary results with preoperative chemoradiation followed by conservative surgery from the University of Tennessee Heath Sciences Center and taking advantage of the recent advances in methods of radiation delivery using conformal techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy , the study will evaluate the effectiveness of this regimen in improving local control and making a more conservative surgical approach possible.

The study committee includes investigators from University of Tennessee, Memphis, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Members of the Skull Base Society are urged to participate in the study to ensure timely achievement of accrual goals. Please contact Sandeep Samant (901 604 4050) for information regarding the study.

5 NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

From The President

On behalf of the membership of the North American Skull Base Society, I would like to extend to

you a personal invitation to Toronto, April 7-10, 2005. The exciting city of Toronto offers outstanding

cuisine, theatre, entertainment and cultural activities, and above all, unforgettable Canadian hospitality.

In addition, there will be an exciting, interesting, and informative scientific program, with keynote addresses,

panels, symposia, proferred papers, posters and video presentations. I look forward to seeing you next April.

Sincerely,

Patrick Gullane, M.D.

Invitation To Exhibit at the 16TH Annual Meeting

April 7–10, 2005

North American Skull Base Society

DO WE HAVE YOUR CURRENT MAILING

INFORMATION?

Please make sure to contact NASBS at info@nasbs.org

with your current mail, fax, and email information to ensure you receive all

NASBS materials.

OfficersPresidentPatrick J. Gullane, MDDept of Otolaryngology Toronto General Hospital University Health Network200 Elizabeth Street, 7EN-242Toronto, ON M5G 2C4 CANADATelephone: 416-340-4853FAX: 416-340-5116E-mail: patrick.gullane@uhn.on.ca

Secretary Franco DeMonte, MD Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1515 Holcombe Boulevard, #442Houston, TX 77030-4009Telephone: 713-792-2400FAX: 713-794-4950E-mail: fdemonte@mdanderson.org

Treasurer Guy J. Petruzzelli, MD, PhD Department of OtolaryngologyLoyola University Medical Center2160 S. First AvenueMaywood, IL 60153Telephone: 708-216-9183FAX: 708-216-4834E-mail: gpetruz@lumc.edu

President-Elect Anil Nanda, MD (2005)Dept of NeurosurgeryLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center1501 Kings HighwayShreveport, LA 71130-3932Telephone: 318-675-6404FAX: 318-675-4615E-mail: ananda@lsuhsc.edu

Immediate Past President Jatin P. Shah, MD (2004)Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center1275 York AvenueNew York, NY 10021Telephone: 212-639-7233FAX: 212-717-3302E-mail: shahj@mskcc.org

Directors at LargeSaleem I. Abdulrauf, MD (2005) Peter D. Costantino, MD (2005)Carl B. Heilman, MD (2007)Michael J. Holliday MD (2006)W. Scott Jellish, MD, PhD (2005)Suresh K. Mukherji, MD (2006)Peter C. Neligan, MD (2007)Daniel W. Nuss, MD, FACS (2007)Joseph M. Zabramski, MD (2006)

Board of AdvisorsVinod K. Anand, MD (2007)Ian T. Jackson, MD (2006)Jon H. Robertson, MD (2008)Jatin P. Shah, MD (2009)Robert F. Spetzler, MD (2005)

6NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Please select relevant membership: International Membership ($100.00 Processing Fee)

North American Membership ($100.00 Processing Fee)PERSONAL:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FIRST NAME MI LAST NAME DEGREE (S)_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS (ASSOCIATION OR INSTITUTION)_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ STREET

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP COUNTRY

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE FAX EMAIL

MEDICAL EDUCATION:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ MEDICAL SCHOOL: INSTITUTION DATE STARTED DATE COMPLETED

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ RESIDENCY: INSTITUTION DATE STARTED DATE COMPLETED AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ FELLOWSHIP: INSTITUTION DATE STARTED DATE COMPLETED AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

EXPERIENCE: CURRENT CLINICAL SPECIALTY:___________________________________________________#YEARS OF PRACTICE:_____ HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS:______________________________________________________________________________ TEACHING PROGRAM AFFILIATION:_______________________________________________________________________ SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS ( ABBREVIATE):___________________________________________________________________

ARE YOU BOARD CERTIFIED IN YOUR SPECIALTY? YES NO IF YES, YEARS OF CERTIFICATION__________

REFERENCES: International Membership (Two active members from ANY International Society must sign this application.) North American Membership (Two active NASBS members must sign this application.)_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ NAME ADDRESS SIGNATURE

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ NAME ADDRESS SIGNATURE

I certify that the above information is complete and accurate. I understand that any false information will disqualify me for membership. If approved for membership, I agree to abide by the bylaws of the Society.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature Date Social Security #

For membership applicants: NASBS requests that payment accompany your applicationProcessing Fee: $100.00

My check is enclosed for the above amount, made payable to the North American Skull Base Society

Charge the above amount to: VISA Mastercard AMEX

Name on Card ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Card #____________________________________________________________________ Expiration Date________________

Please mail with payment to: NASBS. 12100 Sunset Hills Road. Suite 130, Reston, VA 20190 or Fax to: 703-435-4390

NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

12100 SUNSET HILLS ROAD

SUITE 130RESTON VA 20190

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

FIRST CLASS MAILUS POSTAGE

PAIDLAUREL, MD

PERMIT NO. 6326

NORTH AMERICAN SKULL BASE SOCIETY

Westin Harbour Castle HotelToronto, Ontario, Canada

16th Annual MeetingApril 7th – 10th, 2005