This work was designed to study the surgical anatomy of the petrous apex as it relates to the enlarged middle cranial fossa approaches, on 25 temporal bones. In this study we suggest dividing the petrous apex into two topographic areas: an anterior triangular and a posterior quadrangular area with respect to the posterior border of the Gasserian ganglion. Anatomic descriptions endorsed by relevant measurements of these areas are provided in this study.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GlasscockME. Middle fossa approach to the temporal bone: An otologic frontier. Arch Otolaryngol1969; 90: 15–27.
2.
HouseWFHitselbergerWEHornK. The middle fossa transpetrous approach to the anterior-superior cerebellopontine angle. Am J Otol1986; 7: 1–4.
3.
KawaseTToyaSShiobaraR. Transpetrosal approach for aneurysms of the lower basilar artery. J Neurosurg1985; 63: 857–61.
4.
FischUMattoxD. Microsurgery of the skull base. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, 1988: 418–542.
5.
WigandMEHaidTBergMSchusterBGoertzenW. Extended middle cranial fossa approach for acoustic neuroma surgery. Skull Base Surg1991; 1: 183–7.
6.
HitselbergerWEHornKHankinsonHBrakmannDEHouseWF. The middle fossa transpetrous approach for petroclival meningiomas. Skull Base Surg1993; 3: 130–5.
7.
VelutSJanM. Anterior petrosectomy during approach to the petroclival area. In: SchmideckHE, ed. Meningiomas and their surgical managements. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 1991: 435–50.
8.
ArriagaMABrackmannDEHitselbergerWE. Extended middle fossa resection of petroclival and cavernous sinus neoplasms. Laryngoscope1993; 103: 693–8.
9.
GheriniSGBrackmannDELoWWMSolti-BohmanLG. Cholesterol granuloma of the petrous apex. Laryngoscope1985; 95: 659–64.
10.
AndrewsJCMartinNABlackKHonrubiaVFBeckerDP. Middle cranial fossa transtemporal approach to the intrapetrous internal carotid artery. Skull Base Surg1991; 1: 142–6.
11.
Garcia-IbanezEGarcia-IbanezJL. Middle fossa vestibular neurectomy. A report of 373 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1980; 88: 486–90.
12.
AllamAF. Pneumatization of the temporal bone. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1969; 78: 49–64.