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The giant cholesterol cyst of the petrous apex: A distinct clinical entity
Author(s) -
Graham Malcolm D.,
Kemink John L.,
Latack Joseph T.,
Kartush Jack M.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198511000-00021
Subject(s) - medicine , skull , temporal bone , differential diagnosis , jugular foramen , anatomy , lesion , petrous bone , cranial nerves , cyst , apex (geometry) , pathology
The giant cholesterol cyst (GCC) of the petrous apex may now be considered a distinct clinical entity and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions of the midcranial skull base. This benign cystic lesion of the petrous apex gradually enlarges and may produce progressive bone erosion and serial neurologic deficits of the cranial nerves within the temporal bone and jugular foramen. We report here five instances of this lesion (3 patients with unilateral and 1 patient with bilateral petrous apex lesions) and describe the natural history, diagnostic evaluation, pathology, and surgical management.