Radiology, Vol 157, 361-366, Copyright © 1985 by Radiological Society of North America
Epidermoidomas of the cerebellopontine angle and temporal bone: CT and MR aspects
JT Latack, JM Kartush, JL Kemink, MD Graham and JE Knake
Epidermoidomas were found in four locations within and adjacent to the
temporal bone: cerebellopontine angle, petrous apex, facial geniculate
ganglion region, and tympanic-mastoid cavity. Lesions in each of these
locations presented different clinical and imaging characteristics.
Cerebellopontine angle epidermoidomas were seen on computed tomography (CT)
as low-attenuation masses in the posterior fossa. Petrous apex and
geniculate ganglion region lesions destroyed and expanded the bone of their
respective regions. Tympanic-mastoid cavity epidermoidomas were relatively
nonspecific, soft-tissue masses. CT study of the brain and temporal bone
was the single most informative imaging procedure in the preoperative
evaluation of these lesions. Magnetic resonance images complemented CT
scans for evaluation of the size and extent of the abnormality but were
relatively nonspecific and did not allow preoperative differentiation of
epidermoidomas from other temporal bone lesions.
