title: Intracranial complications of temporal bone osteoradionecrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present four cases of life-threatening intracranial complications associated with temporal bone osteoradionecrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a retrospective case review of four patients combined with a literature review.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were treated at Loyola University Medical Center, which is a tertiary care facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The four patients were retrospectively reviewed without demographic constraints.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent preoperative radiographic assessment (magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography scan), and three of the four patients underwent surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The role of surgical intervention in the management of advanced temporal bone osteoradionecrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients underwent mastoid surgery after medical treatment of intracranial complications associated with temporal bone osteoradionecrosis. All three patients had dry, epithelialized mastoid cavities. One patient died as a result of meningitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mastoid surgery should be used in the overall management of patients with advanced temporal bone osteoradionecrosis to prevent secondary intracranial complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leonetti
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Origitano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Severtson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000503:physiopathology; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed