title: Surgery in lesions of the petrous apex.
abstract: It is fortunate that lesions of the petrous apex are rarely encountered. The occult nature of the local disease and the poorly localizing clinical features favor a delayed diagnosis. Its site deep to the labyrinth and facial nerve and its proximity to the internal carotid artery and brain stem potentially make surgery a risky prospect. The reconciling of preservation of neurologic function and adequate surgical exposure requires an extensive knowledge of temporal bone anatomy and surgical approaches.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000601:surgery; D002817:Chordoma / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000601:surgery