Arrested pneumatization of the skull base: imaging characteristics.

OBJECTIVE

Arrested skull base pneumatization is a benign developmental variant that can be confused with significant skull base disease processes. This study reviews the imaging findings in 30 suspected cases of arrested skull base pneumatization.

CONCLUSION

When encountering a nonexpansile lesion with osteosclerotic borders, internal fat, and curvilinear calcifications in the basisphenoid bone or adjacent skull base, radiologists should strongly consider the diagnosis of arrested pneumatization.