Anterior Skull Base Surgeon Joins LVHN

In early October, rhinologist and anterior skull base surgeon Sean Parsel, DO, joined Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), offering treatment for complicated sinus and skull base disorders to individuals in the area.

Parsel recently completed his medical and residency training and clinical fellowship in the management of complex sinus disease, including infections, tumors and chronic sinusitis. During training, he developed a passion for the treatment of sinus and skull base tumors, and this is the primary focus of his practice.

“My training emphasized endoscopic and minimally destructive approaches to the anterior and lateral skull base as well as the paranasal sinuses,” Parsel says. “The majority of my procedures are done endoscopically, through the nose, with no external incision, except in situations where tumors are larger and require open approaches, either through a craniotomy or transfacial approach.”

Parsel looks forward to taking those skills and building a robust sinus and skull base program at LVHN, where he can bring subspecialized care to the region.

“There is a vast potential within LVHN that truly excites me, and I want to help build a world-class academic skull base and ENT program to better serve patients in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey,” he says.

Working as a team with his neurosurgery colleague Walter Jean, MD, Parsel will perform endoscopic transnasal approaches to the anterior cranial base for tumor resection and repair of cerebrospinal fluid leaks as well as approaches to the pituitary gland for pituitary tumors.

“I can use extended approaches through the nose and sinuses to reach areas of the lateral skull base that would historically require an open approach, including the trigeminal nerve and the infratemporal fossa, as well as the upper cervical spine and clivus,” he says. “I also perform routine and complex sinus surgery, including frontal sinus surgery, and focus on revision surgery for refractory disease and nasal polyps, and treatment of severe nosebleeds, including patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.”

Parsel also focuses on orbital tumors and the treatment of thyroid eye disease, generally from Graves’ disease, including orbital and optic nerve decompressions and dacryocystorhinostomy procedures, and treats all complex skull base and sinus disorders, together with infections, osteomyelitis and osteoradionecrosis. In addition, he offers surgical and medical management of chronic and acute sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and nasal obstruction.

Parsel is primarily located at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest but also performs routine procedures at LVH–Hecktown Oaks. He is available for consultations and referrals regarding chronic sinusitis, abnormalities including masses or sinus opacification on CT imaging, unexplained or refractory nosebleeds, refractory nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis, or complaints of nasal obstruction or blockage.