Head and Neck Imaging

Paget's disease

(Sir James Paget, 1814-1899, English surgeon), progressive skeletal disease, seen in older persons, in which bone resorption and formation are both increased, leading to a thicker, softer and more vascular bony matrix than normal. For a general description, see Paget's disease . Involvement of the skull base leads to basilar impression . The disease also occurs in the facial bones, but not without involvement of the calvarium.
The temporal bones may be involved by the disease, particularly the squamous portion, petrous apex and mastoid area. The bony labyrinth may also show abnormalities. Symptoms include hearing loss (sensorineural, conductive or mixed), vertigo and tinnitus . The CT appearance of temporal bone involvement resembles the findings in the skull (demineralization, cotton wool appearance).

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