Craniocervical Pneumatization: Estimation of Prevalence and Imaging of Treatment Response.

OBJECTIVE

Estimate the prevalence of craniocervical pneumatization (CCP) and describe successful treatment of this condition with clinical and radiologic correlation.

PATIENTS: Individuals with documented CCP on computed tomography (CT).

INTERVENTION(S): CT scans of the head, temporal bone, face, neck, and cervical spine. Cessation of habitual Valsalva maneuver (VM) and insertion of pressure-equalization (PE) tubes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence of CCP on CT examinations performed during two decades in a large academic healthcare system. Documentation of symptomatic and imaging improvement following treatment of CCP.

RESULTS

Radiology database review identified two cases of CCP out of a total of 636,854 head and neck CT scans (0.00031%) or 43,553 temporal bone CT scans (0.0046%). Both CCP patients were symptomatic (aural fullness, hearing loss, vertigo) and practiced habitual VM. One patient showed decreased CCP 4 months following cessation of VM, whereas the other patient improved symptomatically and demonstrated reversion of CCP to normal bone on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 3 years following PE tube placement.

CONCLUSIONS

Acquired CCP is exceedingly rare and, when successfully treated, reversion to normal bone may accompany symptom resolution.