title: Complementary use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in assessing skull base lesions.
abstract: Twenty-six patients underwent computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of skull base lesions at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. CT provided improved bone detail, documenting invasion of the lamina papyracea, orbital floor, fovea ethmoidalis, cribriform plate, pterygoid plates, hard palate, and skull base. MRI defined invasion of the orbit, dura, brain, and cavernous sinus. Improved soft-tissue-tumor interface was evident on MRI. MRI was superior to CT in determining carotid artery involvement. MRI distinguished between tumor and retained secretions in the paranasal sinuses. Combining radiographic tumor staging reliably predicted surgical findings; however, MRI consistently yielded sufficient diagnostic information and the additional expense of performing two imaging procedures may not be justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lanzieri
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wanamaker
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lavertu
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D003949:Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005682:Gadolinium; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium