PETROUS CAROTID CANAL STENOSIS IN MALIGNANT OSTEOPETROSIS - CT DOCUMENTATION WITH MR ANGIOGRAPHIC CORRELATION

PURPOSE: To study the association between petrous carotid canal (PCC) and internal carotid artery (ICA) stenoses in patients with malignant osteopetrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mean and minimum PCC diameters o btained from cranial computed tomographic (CT) scans in 20 patients we re compared with similar measurements in 52 control subjects. ICA cali ber, evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) arteriography, was correla ted with age and PCC dimensions. RESULTS: There was a statistically si gnificant difference between patient and control PCC diameters. There was a strong positive correlation between age and PCC diameter in the control subjects, but only a weakly positive correlation in the patien ts. One or both ICAs were stenotic on all patient MR arteriograms. MR angiographic stenosis grade correlated positively with age but not wit h PCC diameters. CONCLUSION PCC and ICA stenoses occur frequently in p atients with malignant osteopetrosis. Bony overgrowth or a ''persisten t fetal state'' may produce the PCC stenoses. The findings do not supp ort progressive FCC narrowing in these patients.