Vascular supply plays a significant role in the management of skull ba
se tumors. The diagnosis is aided by contrast-enhanced imaging and ang
iographic techniques, and embolization procedures are used to devascul
arize certain lesions. The degree of surgical technical difficulty is
strongly influenced by the degree of tumor vascularity. Although the i
mportance of this blood supply is clearly understood, the mechanism in
volved in developing a system of tumor-perfusing vessels is vet to be
defined. The development of a vascular network, or angiogenesis, is an
important event in allowing tumor proliferation to progress beyond sm
all clusters of cells. Basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) is an e
specially attractive candidate as an angiogenic growth factor because
of its ability to stimulate processes that are characteristic of angio
genesis in vitro. Tumors that involve the meninges may have the abilit
y to liberate normally stored bFGF which may, in turn, induce new vess
el formation for continued tumor proliferation. An immunohistochemical
analysis of rodent and bovine meninges to study this phenomenon is de
scribed. The dura, arachnoid, and their associated vessels are shown c
learly to contain this growth factor. Ultimately, an adjuvant therapy
based on the inhibition of angiogenesis may provide a reasonable alter
native to aggressive surgical approaches in skull base tumors that are
incompletely resectable.