Imaging of Meckel Cave: A Pictorial Review of Anatomy and Pathology

Meckel cave (MC) is a CSF-containing pouch within the middle cranial fossa that communicates with the prepontine subarachnoid space and houses the trigeminal nerve and ganglion. A comprehensive understanding of MC anatomy, knowledge of clinical context, and familiarity with imaging features that differentiate common pathologies all facilitate accurate diagnosis. This Pictorial Essay discusses relevant CT and MRI techniques used to image MC, reviews MC anatomy and variants, and introduces the range of pathologies that can affect MC, including developmental anomalies, infectious/inflammatory conditions, benign and malignant neoplasms, and extrinsic processes.