[Opacity of the pterygo-palatine fossa]

The pterygo-palatine fossa can be opacified because the invasion by pathologic tissue. This opacification, due to the loss of normal fatty content, has been found in 19 patients on 40 subjects affected by different maxillofacial pathology. The opacification of the pterygo-palatine fossa is a non specific sign and is generally associated with signs of bony involvement. This sign appears particularly usefull when the bony involvement is very slight and of in certain evaluation.