title: Idiopathic osteomyelitis at the base of the skull.
abstract: Osteomyelitis of the skull base is a rare disorder, and even more so when the etiology is noninfectious. Symptoms are noisome and include headache and cranial nerve deficits. Because of the possibility of neoplasia, thorough evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment are mandatory. In the case reported herein, a 58-year-old man with a 3-month history of symptoms is presented. Physical examination disclosed cranial nerve involvement. Nasopharyngeal biopsy and culture in combination with MRI and a gallium bone scan established the diagnosis of osteomyelitis at the base of the skull. The patient was effectively treated with antibiotics and had a complete recovery.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Otolaryngology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Che
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Jin-Chin
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bor-Hwang
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yaoh-Shiang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019291:Skull Base; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents