Volumetry and analysis of anatomical variants of the anterior portion of the petrous apex outlined by the kawase triangle using computed tomography.
J Neurol Surg B Skull Base
; 75(3): 147-51, 2014 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25072007
ABSTRACT
Background Anterior petrosectomy has become an increasingly used approach for petroclival lesions. This study measures the volume and the anatomical variants of the anterior portion of the petrous apex outlined by the Kawase triangle using computed tomography (CT). Methods This was a transversal retrospective study. We assessed the anterior petrous apex portion outlined by the Kawase triangle in consecutive patients > 18 years of age from CT scans of temporal bone stored in an archive system. The volumetry was performed on a workstation. Results A total of 154 petrosal apex were analyzed in 77 patients (36 men). The average volume of the region outlined by the Kawase triangle was 1.89 ± 0.52 cm(3). The volume average in men was 2.01 ± 0.58 cm(3), and the average in women was 1.79 ± 0.41 cm(3). Intra- and interobserver agreement were both excellent, and there was little variance. Nineteen petrous apex demonstrated anatomical variations. In 18 cases it was pneumatized, and in one case a vascular or nerve-like structure was identified, a report we did not find in the literature. Conclusion The volumetry of the petrous apex anterior portion outlined by the Kawase triangle can be made by CT with excellent intra- and interobserver agreement and reproducibility. There are anatomical variants in this region that are relevant to surgery.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Observational_studies
Language:
En
Journal:
J Neurol Surg B Skull Base
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brasil