[Radiological diagnostic of the non-pathological conditions of the petrous apex].
Many patients with otological symptoms are remitted to the otolaryngology outpatient clinics every day. These patients commonly undergo imaging studies, generally magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In some cases, a positive unilateral result is found in the form of a potentially pathological signal that can be observed in the petrous apex region. We present the cases of 6 patients (aged between 26 and 62 years) with asymmetric bone marrow distribution or trapped mucous fluid secretions in the petrous apex, collected over a 6-year period. Diagnosis was made with the use of CT scans and MRI. All of the patients were referred for skull base surgery. In all cases a non-pathologic asymmetry was diagnosed in the petrous apex. Certain non-pathologic conditions of the petrous apex must be treated expectantly without any surgery.
González-García
José Angel
JA
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Instituto Oncológico Kutxa-Onkologikoa, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, España. jagonzalez@onkologikoa.org
Trinidad
Almudena
A
Verdaguer
José María
JM
García-Berrocal
José Ramón
JR
Ramírez-Camacho
Rafael
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed