Advances in Computed Tomography Evaluation of Skull Base Diseases

Abstract

Introduction Computed tomography (CT) is a key component in the evaluation of skull base diseases. With its ability to clearly delineate the osseous anatomy, CT can provide not only important tips to diagnosis but also key information for surgical planning.

Objectives The purpose of this article is to describe some of the main CT imaging features that contribute to the diagnosis of skull base tumors, review recent knowledge related to bony manifestations of these conditions, and summarize recent technological advances in CT that contribute to image quality and improved diagnosis.

Data Synthesis Recent advances in CT technology allow fine-detailed evaluation of the bony anatomy using submillimetric sections. Dual-energy CT material decomposition capabilities allow clear separation between contrast material, bone, and soft tissues with many clinical applications in the skull base. Dual-energy technology has also the ability to decrease image degradation from metallic hardwares using some techniques that can result in similar or even decreased radiation to patients.

Conclusions CT is very useful in the evaluation of skull base diseases, and recent technological advances can increase disease conspicuity resulting in improved diagnostic capabilities and enhanced surgical planning.

Keywords

skull base - computed tomography - dual energy

Introduction

Due to its complex anatomy and close relationship with osseous structures, skull base lesions are often evaluated with both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnostic and preoperative planning purposes. CT can delineate the osseous anatomy with increased precision in relation to MRI. Additionally, CT can provide important tips to diagnosis by identifying different patterns of bone involvement and periosteal reaction or by simply detecting the presence of ossification or calcification within a lesion.

Review of Literature and Discussion

Slow-growing lesions that do not infiltrate the bone tend to demonstrate smooth cortical expansion and bone remodeling with preservation the bony cortex, whereas aggressive tumors or infection typically infiltrate the bone, destroying the adjacent bony cortex in a permeative pattern.[1] This concept is often used to differentiate between schwannomas and paragangliomas in the skull base ([Fig. 1]). Well-recognized exceptions to the rule are invasive pituitary adenomas and meningiomas. Bone invasion in pituitary adenomas does not typically represent a malignant feature and can be seen in ∼35% of the cases of benign adenomas.[2] Clival invasion is more commonly seen in women, large tumors, and null-cell-type tumors. These infiltrative adenomas, however, have increased recurrence rates and complications and therefore their preoperative identification is important for surgical planning and prognostic purposes.[3]

Fig. 1 Demonstration of two distinctive patterns of bone involvement. Note the permeative and destructive pattern of bone involvement typically seen in aggressive lesions such as paragangliomas (A) in relation to a smoothly marginated expansile lesion such as a schwannoma (B) in the right jugular foramen in these two different patients.

A subset of grade I meningiomas can also invade the bone.[4] These cases tend to be clinically challenging as complete tumor resection becomes more difficult and therefore the risk of recurrence increases.[5] It has been suggested that the molecular regulators of bone tropism in meningiomas may depend on their anatomical location as meningiomas of the anterior skull base show a distinct protein expression pattern compared with spheno-orbital meningiomas.[5] The most typical bony finding in meningiomas, however, is bone hyperostosis ([Fig. 2]). The cause of hyperostosis in meningiomas is controversial. One theory favors focal vascular disturbances generated by the tumor,[6] [7] [8] another suggests osteoblastic stimulation by tumor secreting factors,[9] [10] and another proposes bone production by the tumor itself.[6] [8] It is important to recognize, however, that a significant number of patients with radiologic hyperostosis have been demonstrated to have tumor invasion of the bone.[11] [12]

Fig. 2 Hyperostosis (white arrowheads) in a cavernous sinus meningioma (black arrowheads).

Hemangiopericytoma is an important diagnostic consideration when bone invasion is identified in a dural-based mass. These tumors are typically multilobulated, extra-axial masses, with associated bone erosion. Unlike with meningiomas, however, hyperostosis and intratumoral calcification are not typically present.[13] Metastasis can also have a similar appearance to hemangiopericytomas and should also be considered in the appropriate clinical setting.

Another bony change related to meningiomas is the presence of pneumosinus dilatans, which consists of abnormal expansion of one or more paranasal sinus. This can be another helpful sign to indicate the presence of a meningioma in the anterior skull base.[14]

CT is also very helpful in identifying patterns of calcification or ossification to assist in the diagnosis. It is known that ∼90% of craniopharyngiomas calcify, making this an important diagnostic feature.[15] Additionally, the distinct pattern of chondroid calcification (arc or ringlike calcifications) in chondrosarcomas can also be useful in pointing to this entity during diagnostic workup. Chordoma is one of the main differential considerations once chondrosarcomas are suspected, and it is important to differentiate between arc-whorl intralesional calcifications seen in chondrosarcomas with fragmented destroyed bone more often seen in chordomas.[16]

Another use of CT in the skull base is in the identification of bony defects in the evaluation of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Recent multislice CT scanners can acquire images with slice thickness as thin as 0.5 to 0.6 mm and can perform multiplanar reconstructions, providing greater ability to evaluate submillimetric defects. Interactive multiplanar evaluation (axial, coronal, sagittal, and oblique planes) is important to identify and correctly describe osseous defects in the evaluation of CSF leaks ([Fig. 3]).[17] The identification of bony defects in these cases is highly sensitive but not definitive for CSF leak. Stone et al observed that all patients in their 42-patient cohort with confirmed CSF leak demonstrated bony defects on high-resolution CT. Ten patients with bony defects demonstrated on CT, however, were not confirmed to have CSF leak.[18]

Fig. 3 Bony defect along the left cribriform plate (arrowhead) in a patient with suspected cerebrospinal fluid leak.

In addition to providing important characterization of the bony structures, CT can also provide invaluable information about the relationship of a lesion with the adjacent vascular structures through computed tomography angiography (CTA).

One major challenge related to vascular imaging in the skull base has been the evaluation of the cavernous internal carotid artery. This is particular true because the high-density contrast material within the vessels becomes less conspicuous when surrounded by bone. Several computerized bone subtraction algorithms have been proposed in the past in an attempt to overcome this issue. One technique utilizes two imaging acquisitions (pre- and postcontrast) to subtract the background bone. The major disadvantage of this technique is the patient's increased radiation exposure.[19] In addition, motion between the two acquisitions can also impact the quality of the bone subtraction in this technique. Another bone subtraction method uses computerized imaging processing techniques to differentiate the vessel anatomy from the adjacent bone by segmenting out only the structure containing the contrast material. This technique relies on the variation between the densities of different structures as well as few anatomical landmarks to distinguish between bone and vessel. Unfortunately, overlap exists between the density of these structures, and the bone subtraction obtained with this methodology is not consistently reliable. Recent dual-energy technology can differentiate between contrast material and bone with high precision. This is possible because the density of the calcium and iodine varies, which causes them to behave differently depending on the energy applied to X-ray beams (different peak kilovoltages). Computer algorithms are then applied to the acquired images, allowing decomposition of few elements and subtraction of the calcium ([Fig. 4]).

Fig. 4 Bone subtraction using dual-energy technique with clear separation between iodine and calcium.

The evaluation of the petrous, cavernous, and supraclinoid internal carotid artery is very important in the preoperative planning for tumors that invade the cavernous sinus. Cavernous sinus meningiomas, for instance, can cause significant narrowing of the cavernous internal carotid artery. Although this is not easily recognized with standard multiplanar reconstructions, techniques such as dual-energy bone subtraction or some postprocessing tools such as curved reformats can be of great assistance. Even with postprocessing techniques, however, it may be difficult to appreciate smaller vessels such as posterior communicating arteries that may have been compressed by the tumor. In these situations, it is often helpful to use thin-section T2-weighted images to troubleshoot.

Another use of dual-energy technology in the evaluation of skull base pathology relates to its ability to decrease artifacts that are known to negatively impact image quality, particularly in the posterior fossa. The petrosal ridge of the temporal bone is the hardest bone in the human body and is responsible for significant artifact in the cerebellopontine region. Based on the two polychromatic X-ray beams available in dual-energy CT, sophisticated reconstruction algorithms can be applied to estimate what a scan performed with a single monochromatic X-ray beam might have shown. With such approach, beam-hardening and streak artifacts can be significantly reduced, although often at the expense of lower signal-to-noise ratio.[20] The same technique can be applied to reduce artifact from external sources or metallic hardware in the craniocervical junction ([Fig. 5]).[21] [22]

Fig. 5 Dual-energy acquisition with two different monoenergetic selections (A: 50 keV; B: 100 keV). The 100-keV monoenergetic imaging shows decreased streak artifact from the suboccipital metallic hardware.

Dual-energy CT can also be used to generate a virtual noncontrasted CT from a contrast enhanced study by subtracting the iodine material from the image using its material decomposition capabilities. Yet, there is strong evidence that dual-energy CT acquired via dual-source technology does not result in increased radiation to patients.[23] In fact, the radiation from dual-energy CTs measured by volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) have been found to be 12% lower than single-energy CTs.[24]

Additionally, having the ability to generate two scans (contrast-enhanced and virtual noncontrast) from a single postcontrast acquisition may have further radiation exposure savings when these two scans are clinically needed. By decomposing the iodine component from the image, dual-energy CT can also provide maps on which iodine distribution is color-coded and superimposed on the virtual noncontrast CT, which is thought to increase visual detection of lesions in the head and neck.[25] [26]

Final Comments

CT is an invaluable tool in the evaluation of skull base disease. In addition to providing important tips to diagnosis, it can also depict important landmarks for surgical planning. Recent advances in CT technology allow fine-detailed evaluation of the bony anatomy with submillimetric imaging sections with increased overall image quality and similar or even decreased radiation exposure to patients.

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