What is chronic petrous Apicitis?
Petrous apicitis is infection and inflammation of the petrous apex of the temporal bone and the air cells it contains. It is a known complication of acute otitis media, as acute otitis media can extend medially into a pneumatized petrous apex.
How is Petrositis treated?
Petrositis has traditionally been treated with surgery, but recent advances in imaging, with improved antibiotic treatment, allow more conservative management.
What causes fluid in petrous apex?
What Causes a Petrous Apex Lesion? The exact cause of some petrous apex lesions is not clear. It is believed that cholesterol granulomas may develop as the result of air infiltrating the bone marrow and creating pockets that then fill with blood and trigger the formation of a cyst.
What does Apicitis mean?
a : inflammation and infection of the apex of the petrous portion of the temporal bone More commonly, petrous apicitis results from chronic otitis media with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the predominant bacteria causing the infection. —
What causes gradenigo syndrome?
GS may progress from untreated otitis media when the infection spreads to the petrous apex of the temporal bone. Infection is commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus aureus. Tuberculosis and fungal infection is another less likely cause of infection.
Why do you get persistent ear discharge in Petrositis?
Anatomy. The petrous temporal bone is contiguous with the mastoid and its air cells. It has numerous air chambers within it and this, combined with its highly vascular marrow, means that it is prone to infection that has spread from the middle ear to the mastoid.
What does the petrous apex do?
The petrous apex is located in the temporal bone — one of the bones of the skull that houses the structures of the ear.
What is petrous apex cholesterol granuloma?
Cholesterol granulomas are rare, benign (noncancerous) cysts that can occur at the tip of the petrous apex, a part of the skull that is next to the middle ear. The cysts are expanding masses that contain fluids, lipids, and cholesterol crystals, surrounded by a fibrous lining.