Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of Gradenigo syndrome

Petrous Apicitis: A Systematic Review and Case Presentation

INTRODUCTION

Petrous apicitis (PA) is a rare but dangerous complication of acute otitis media. The objective of this study is to present a case of PA and systematically review the existing literature on PA to characterize clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcomes in the antibiotic era.

METHODS

A comprehensive search from 1983 to June 1, 2020, of PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EmBase databases was conducted. Studies with clinical data regarding patients with PA were included. Non-English literature or studies with insufficient individual patient data were excluded. Sixty-seven studies were included with a total of 134 patients.

RESULTS

A total of 67 articles were found to meet criteria for inclusion. The mean age of presentation was 33 years. Recent acute otitis media was reported in 78 patients (58.2%). Only 3 patients (2.2%) were immunocompromised, and 8 patients (6.0%) had a history of diabetes. Gradenigo's triad of abducens palsy, otorrhea, and retro-orbital or facial pain was reported in 28 patients (20.9%); however, these presenting symptoms were common individually (51.5%, 48.5%, and 64.2%, respectively). Hearing loss (35.8%), facial weakness (17.9%), and vertigo (7.5%) were also reported.The most frequently cultured pathogen was Pseudomonas (34.2%), followed by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. All 134 patients underwent imaging, with computed tomography being the most frequently used modality (56.0%). Nearly all patients received antibiotic therapy (95.6%), with 91 (67.9%) undergoing surgery ranging from myringotomy (26.9%) to petrosectomy (25.4%). Five patients (5.7%) died because of complications related to PA. Mean follow-up was 11.0 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Petrous apicitis has a variable presentation with potential for severe morbidity. Mortality rates are low, and presentation with Gradenigo's triad is uncommon. Appropriate medical management with surgical drainage can avoid long-term sequelae.

How well do we know Gradenigo? A comprehensive literature review and proposal for novel diagnostic categories of Gradenigo's syndrome

Gradenigo's Syndrome is a rare complication of otitis media and/or mastoiditis resulting in inflammation of the petrous apex of the temporal bone. Here, we highlight an interesting case from our institution, summarize available pediatric cases from the past fifty years to provide an updated diagnostic categorization for this rare condition with confusing nomenclature, and suggest guidance for diagnosis and management.

Lesions of the petrous apex: classification and findings at CT and MR imaging

The petrous apex is a complex region of the central skull base that is surrounded by a number of important vascular and neural structures and can be home to a wide range of disease processes. Lesions arising in or spreading to the petrous apex cause varied and occasionally severe clinical sequelae, which typically result from mass effect or direct invasion of the cranial nerves, brainstem, or internal carotid artery. Because the petrous apex is not amenable to direct examination, cross-sectional imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plays an important role in diagnosis and characterization of lesions occurring there. Petrous apex lesions can be classified on the basis of their origin into the following categories: developmental lesions, inflammatory lesions, benign tumors, malignant tumors, vascular lesions, and osseous dysplasias. The most common lesions arising in the petrous apex are cholesterol granulomas, which can be reliably diagnosed with MR imaging due to their high signal intensity on both T1-weighted images and T2-weighted images. In addition, one should also be familiar with anatomic variants or pseudolesions in the petrous apex that can be mistaken for pathologic conditions.

Paralytic strabismus: third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsy

Eye movement abnormalities constitute an important clinical sign that can be a manifestation of dysfunction of cranial nerves III, IV, and VI (the 3 ocular motor nerves). Specific motility deficits often have highly localizing value within the neuroaxis, serving to refine a differential diagnosis and guide management. This article reviews the key anatomic concepts, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management of ocular motor nerve palsies. Dysfunction of an ocular motor nerve must be distinguished from other causes of abnormal eye movements, such as myasthenia gravis or thyroid eye disease, which are outside the scope of this article.

Imaging of inflammatory and infectious diseases in the temporal bone

Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the temporal bone are a major indication to perform high-resolution CT and MR imaging studies. Such studies allow one to evaluate the extent of the disease in the soft tissues and in the bony structures of the temporal bone. On these same imaging studies the possible extension of the infection to surrounding regions is visualized. In this article a segmental approach is used, focusing on four structures in the temporal bone: the external ear, the otomastoid and petrous apex, the inner ear, and the facial nerve. For each of the four sections imaging findings are described and illustrated, and if relevant a differential diagnostic approach is highlighted.

Gradenigo syndrome without acute otitis media

Acute otitis media complications are less and less common, thanks to the more widespread availability and use of adequate antibiotics. Nevertheless, when they occur, they may be inconspicuous or silent but with dangerous evolution. Described here is the case of a 5-year-old child suffering from incomplete Gradenigo syndrome without acute otitis media, which was managed medically with favorable outcome.

Gradenigo-Syndrom

Intracranial complications of acute otitis media are rare in the time of a specific antibiotic therapy. We report about the case of a 13-year-old female patient with an incompletely cured otitis media which was followed by a petrous apicitis presenting abducens nerve palsy. She was successfully treated by a combination of surgical intervention, high dose intravenous antibiotics, systemic corticoid-therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

[Painful ophthalmoplegias]

Painful ophthalmoplegias have numerous etiologies and are often the presenting sign of a severe disease. Anatomic localization of the lesion is essential in interpreting neuroimaging.

Painful ophthalmologic disorders and eye pain for the neurologist

Neurologists should be aware of the following causes of eye pain: (1)ocular and orbital disorders with or without visible pathology of the eye (eg,redness, corneal opacity, or proptosis); (2) ophthalmologic syndromes associated with headache; and (3) headache syndromes associated with ophthalmologic findings.

Streptococcus acidominimus infection in a child causing Gradenigo syndrome

Gradenigo syndrome is a rare presentation of acute petrositis. The clinical triad of Gradenigo syndrome consists of acute suppurative otitis media, severe unilateral headache and abducens nerve palsy. We report the first case of Gradenigo syndrome caused by Streptococcus acidominimus, a Gram-positive coccus of the Streptococcus viridans group, which rarely causes deep-seated infection in humans.

CONCLUSION

Gradenigo syndrome may complicate acute otitis media and should be suspected in case of unilateral headache and abducens nerve palsy. Conservative medical treatment without surgery may be considered in some patients.

Clinical review: the differential diagnosis of pain in the quiet eye

BACKGROUND

Eye pain, periorbital and retro-orbital pain, and headache or facial pain referred to the orbital region are common presenting complaints.

REVIEW SUMMARY

In this review, we discuss the etiologies of eye pain in the quiet eye, which is defined clinically as one with a clear cornea without redness or irritation of the conjunctiva or sclera.

CONCLUSIONS

The causes of eye pain may be divided into two groups: (1) those associated with abnormal localizing ophthalmologic and neuro-ophthalmologic findings (including trigeminal neuropathies);(2) those with a normal ophthalmologic and neurologic examinations. The latter group is further divided into the following subgroups: (1) specific short-lasting or long-lasting headache or eye pain syndromes; (2) pain referred to the eye from other pathologic processes (secondary eye pain) sometimes distant from structures concerned with vision; and (3) pain from orbital, superior orbital fissure, cavernous sinus, or intracranial infiltrative, neoplastic, or inflammatory disease processes with normal ophthalmologic and neuro-ophthalmologic exam. Unfortunately, in some patients, no etiology for the pain syndrome is discerned and one is left with a diagnosis of idiopathic eye pain, eye strain, or atypical facial pain.

Unusual lesions of the cerebellopontine angle: a segmental approach

Tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are frequent; acoustic neuromas and meningiomas represent the great majority of such tumors. However, a large variety of unusual lesions can also be encountered in the CPA. The site of origin is the main factor in making a preoperative diagnosis for an unusual lesion of the CPA. In addition, it is essential to analyze attenuation at computed tomography (CT), signal intensity at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, enhancement, shape and margins, extent, mass effect, and adjacent bone reaction. CPA masses can primarily arise from the cerebellopontine cistern and other CPA structures (arachnoid cyst, nonacoustic schwannoma, aneurysm, melanoma, miscellaneous meningeal lesions) or from embryologic remnants (epidermoid cyst, dermoid cyst, lipoma). Tumors can also invade the CPA by extension from the petrous bone or skull base (cholesterol granuloma, paraganglioma, chondromatous tumors, chordoma, endolymphatic sac tumor, pituitary adenoma, apex petrositis). Finally, CPA lesions can be secondary to an exophytic brainstem or ventricular tumor (glioma, choroid plexus papilloma, lymphoma, hemangioblastoma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor). A close association between CT and MR imaging findings is very helpful in establishing the preoperative diagnosis for unusual lesions of the CPA.