Imaging Spectrum of Cavernous Sinus Lesions with Histopathologic Correlation

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• The cavernous sinuses are complex venous plexuses in the middle cranial fossa.
• They are closely related to cranial nerves and the internal carotid artery.
• Pathologic conditions affecting the cavernous sinuses are diverse and can present with overlapping symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cavernous sinus lesions over a 10-year period.
• To describe the anatomy of the cavernous sinus.
• To demonstrate the imaging spectrum of cavernous sinus pathologies and correlate with histopathology.

Main Methods:

• Review of institutional cases of cavernous sinus lesions over 10 years.
• Multimodality imaging including MRI, CT, and digital subtraction angiography.
• Correlation of imaging findings with histopathologic diagnoses.

Main Results:

• A wide spectrum of neoplastic, vascular, infective/inflammatory, and miscellaneous lesions involving the cavernous sinus were identified.
• MRI was the primary imaging modality, supplemented by CT and angiography.
• Imaging findings were correlated with histopathologic results to confirm diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis and management of cavernous sinus lesions rely on understanding their anatomy and imaging features.
• Multimodality imaging plays a vital role in characterizing these lesions, guiding differential diagnosis, and informing biopsy strategies.
• This review highlights key imaging findings and potential interpretation pitfalls for cavernous sinus pathologies.