Ersoy M., Arslan R. S., Gültekin G., Karabay N.
ECR 2026 THE RAYS OF KNOWLEDGE, Vienna, Avusturya, 4 - 08 Mart 2026, ss.1, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
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Yayın Türü:
Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
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Basıldığı Şehir:
Vienna
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Basıldığı Ülke:
Avusturya
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Sayfa Sayıları:
ss.1
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Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli:
Evet
Özet
Purpose or Learning Objective
Our purpose is to review skull base anatomy, define the etiological factors and comorbidities responsible for skull base osteomyelitis as an urgent entity, examine MRI and CT imaging, and explore the differential diagnosis.
Methods or Background
Over a 17-year period (2008-2025), we screened patients referred to us from different clinics (e.g. ear nose throat, infectious diseases, etc.) with suspected skull base involvement.
These patients may present with nonspecific symptoms (head and/or facial pain), or with symptoms that begin with otitis externa and progress to severe otalgia, purulent otorrhea, conductive hear loss, or cranial nerve findings. We will discuss these patients' imaging findings and correlate with clinical findings.
Results or Findings
The skull base is the lower part of the skull that contains the brain and cranial nerves. It consists of three fossae (anterior cranial fossa, middle cranial fossa, and posterior cranial fossa) and five cranial bones (frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, temporal, and occipital bones).
Skull base osteomyelitis is a condition that occurs after sinus or otological infections and affects the structures that form it, especially in patients with diabetes and immunosuppression.
Imaging techniques for diagnosis include CT with/without contrast, MRI with contrast, and nuclear imaging.
CT is used to evaluate bone structure and eustachian tube dysfunction, and MRI is used for involvement of soft tissue or fat planes or intracranial extension. Nuclear imaging can demonstrate bone involvement with high sensitivity.
Conclusion
Skull base osteomyelitis is an uncommon, devastating, and urgent clinical condition. Although most commonly seen in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus, it should be considered in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with otologic and cranial nerve symptoms. Diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating clinical findings, medical history, imaging, and microbiological findings.