Imaging Spectrum of Skull Base Lesions: A Pictorial Essay

The skull base is a complex anatomical structure that supports the brain and contains multiple foramina, through which important structures such as the cranial nerves, spinal cord, and blood vessels pass. Various conditions can affect the skull base, such as infection, primary skull base tumors, invasion from head and neck malignancies, neural tumors, meningeal tumors, vascular pathologies, and developmental lesions. Diagnosis and management of these lesions require a multidisciplinary approach including neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, and neuroradiologists. While both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used in the characterization of these lesions, CT is better in the evaluation of bony changes and MRI is useful in evaluating surrounding soft tissue extension. This article depicts MRI and CT imaging appearances of a spectrum of skull base lesions.