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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Computed Tomography in Processes at the Base of the Skull and in the Skull Vault

subject

description

Many CT systems allow detailed examination of the bony structures of the base of the skull and the vault. Elimination of the waterbox and enlargement of the opening of the gantry allows free positioning of the head, use of coronary projections, and studies of the base of the skull. A high-resolution matrix (320 × 320 for the EMI 5005 used in most of the studies in our series) provides a high degree of accuracy. A number of authors has reported on the use of computed tomography in studying the base of the skull, especially for planning surgical proce duresor radiation therapy (Liliequist and Forsell 1976; Bradac et al. 1977 b; Bradac et al. 1977c; Bradac et al. 1978; Hammerschlag et al. 1977; Caille et al. 1977; Lohkamp and Claussen 1977; Becker et al. 1978; Weinsteinet al. 1978; Huk and Schiefer 1978). The value and limitations of this technique in the diagnosis of lesions at the base of the skull and in the skull vault will be described in this chapter. Detailed discussions of individual histological tumor types are to be found under the appropriate headings elsewhere in the book.