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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Image findings of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis involving the skull base
S Y Yun1, Y J Choi2, S R Chung2
1Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Radiology, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Aim:
To investigate computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of skull bases involving anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV).
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective review was undertaken to identify an institutional historical cohort of 17 patients with confirmed AAV who underwent CT or MRI and had skull base involvement between 2002 and 2021. Two radiologists reviewed the extent and features of the lesions, bone changes, and other MRI findings.
Results:
A total of 17 patients (12 men; mean age ± standard deviation, 46.5 ± 17.1 years) were selected. AAV presented as infiltrative lesions with involvement at various sites. Most cases involved the paranasal sinuses (PNS; 88%, 15/17), nasopharynx (88%, 15/17), pterygopalatine fossa (82%, 14/17), and parapharyngeal space (82%, 14/17), frequently accompanied by mucosal irregularity of the PNS and nasopharynx (71%, 12/17). Central skull base and temporal bone involvement were seen in 53% (9/17) and 38% (6/16) of cases, respectively. On T1-weighted imaging (WI) and T2WI MRI, all lesions (15/15) showed predominant signal iso-intensity to grey matter.
Conclusions:
Although radiological findings of AAV are non-specific and skull base involvement is less common, AAV may be considered if infiltrative lesions predominantly involving the PNS, nasopharynx, pterygopalatine fossa, and parapharyngeal space with combined bone changes of skull base are seen.
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