This is a review of the current status of the surgery of the skull base with special reference to the otolaryngological districts. The main topics are as follow: classification of pathology review of the clinical and surgical anatomy clinical and neuroradiological diagnosis surgical management of the pathology in the occipito-temporal area and in the rhinobase principles of management and operative approaches to the skull base in Neurosurgery principles of management and operative approaches to the skull base in Maxillo-Facial Surgery.