What is petrous Apicitis?
Petrous apicitis is a rare infection of the petrous apex of the temporal bone that occurs as an extension of a middle ear or mastoid infection.
What causes gradenigo syndrome?
GS may progress from untreated otitis media when the infection spreads to the petrous apex of the temporal bone. Infection is commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus aureus. Tuberculosis and fungal infection is another less likely cause of infection.
What are petrous air cells?
The petrous apex is located in the temporal bone — one of the bones of the skull that houses the structures of the ear. The petrous apex is a difficult area for surgeons to get to; it is essentially just off the midline of the skull base. Fluid in a petrous apex air cell (like fluid in a sinus)
Why is petrous used to describe the temporal bone?
Why is this term used to describe the petrous part of the temporal bone? It houses sensory structures of the inner ear that provide information about hearing and balance. What structures are found deep within the petrous part of the temporal bone?
What does petrous mean in anatomy?
Definition of petrous : of, relating to, or constituting the exceptionally hard and dense portion of the human temporal bone that contains the internal auditory organs.
Is mastoiditis curable?
Mastoiditis can be cured if treated with antibiotics right away. It may come back periodically (recur) in some individuals. If infection spreads, serious complication can arise including hearing loss, bone infection, blood clots, brain abscess, and meningitis.
What causes petrous apex effusion?
What Causes a Petrous Apex Lesion? The exact cause of some petrous apex lesions is not clear. It is believed that cholesterol granulomas may develop as the result of air infiltrating the bone marrow and creating pockets that then fill with blood and trigger the formation of a cyst.
What is Pneumatized petrous apex?
Pneumatization of the petrous apex results from extension of air cells along infralabyrinthine, anterior, superior, posteromedial, or subarcuate tracts that communicate directly with the mastoid or middle ear cavity and provide direct pathways for disease spread from the mastoid bone or middle ear to the petrous apex.
What are the signs and symptoms of petrous apicitis?
In the later, symptoms will be those of a middle ear infection, superimposed on symptoms specific to petrous apicitis 2: deep facial pain due to inflammation of the adjacent dura and trigeminal nerve in Meckel’s cave. abducens nerve palsy (see Gradenigo syndrome) due to involvement of Dorello’s canal.
What is the clinical presentation of petrous apicitis in otomastoiditis?
Clinical presentation depends on whether petrous apicitis is isolated or (as is more common) is a complication of acute otomastoiditis. In the later, symptoms will be those of a middle ear infection, superimposed on symptoms specific to petrous apicitis 2:
What are the signs and symptoms of petrous apex lesions?
Patients with petrous apex lesions are often asymptomatic or present with nonspecific symptoms, such as headache, retro-orbital pain, or ear pain.
What is the role of CT in the workup of apicitis?
CT is the modality of choice to evaluate bony changes in the temporal bone, which in the setting of petrous apicitis are erosive lysis with ill-defined irregular edges. Contrast enhanced scans may demonstrate peripheral enhancement as well as dural thickening and enhancement, although these are better appreciated on MRI.