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Pneumatized petrous temporal bone

Case contributed by Mostafa Elfeky
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Headache

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Male

CT skull base

ct

Symmetrical bilateral pneumatized petrous temporal bone apices.

Case Discussion

Pneumatization of the petrous temporal bone apices is an anatomical variant that may be bilateral or asymmetrical. It is important not to confuse it with a pathological lesion especially on MRI.

Benign lesions such as cholesterol granuloma and cholesteatoma are more likely to occur in a pneumatized petrous apex. Also, it can be a site for CSF fistula especially after skull base surgery (e.g. vestibular schwannoma surgery).

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