title: Endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to petrous apex cholesterol granulomas.
abstract: Cholesterol granulomas of the petrous apex are inflammatory reactions due to obstruction of air cells within the petrous apex. We report two cases of petrous apex cholesterol granulomas that were treated via the endoscopic transsphenoidal route. The transsphenoidal approach is minimally invasive, preserves hearing and drains these cysts into the sphenoid sinus. We consider this approach to be the technique of choice for a cholesterol granuloma that abuts sphenoid sinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurien
authors.forename: Ari George
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Chacko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol