Skull base CT: normative values for size and symmetry of the facial nerve canal, foramen ovale, pterygoid canal, and foramen rotundum.

PURPOSE: Contrast-enhanced MRI is the mainstay for detecting pathology in the skull base foramina and nerve canals, through demonstration of abnormal enhancement. When MRI is contraindicated, or unable to differentiate tumor from non-neoplastic pathology, high-resolution skull base CT is indicated to assess for nerve canal or foramen widening, which is currently determined subjectively. The purpose of this study is to provide objective CT criteria that may help distinguish between normal asymmetry and pathologic nerve canal or foramen widening.

METHODS: Temporal bone CTs of 50 consecutive adults without facial or trigeminal nerve pathology were retrospectively reviewed. Short axis measurements were obtained in the axial plane for three segments of the facial nerve canal (labyrinthine, tympanic, and mastoid), foramen ovale, pterygoid canal and foramen rotundum on both sides in each subject. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and left-right asymmetry was calculated.

RESULTS: Nerve canal/foramen size was normally distributed across subjects, with a minimal amount of left-right asymmetry. The upper limits of the 95 % confidence interval for absolute left-right asymmetry were: 0.25, 0.21, and 0.15 mm for the labyrinthine, tympanic, and mastoid segments of the facial nerve canal, respectively; 0.62 mm for foramen ovale; 0.36 mm for pterygoid canal; 0.38 mm for foramen rotundum.

CONCLUSION: Relative asymmetry is more important than absolute size for determining nerve canal/foramen abnormality. These normative data may be useful adjuncts to subjective assessments of nerve canal/foramen size when using skull base CT to identify tumor.