Skull base and cranial nerves radiologic anatomy part 1: Basics and skull base

Abstract

The skull base anatomy is complex. Many vital neurovascular structures course through the skull base canals and foramina. With the routine use of CT and MRI, the localization of lesions has become more precise as well as their relationship with adjacent neurovascular structures. There is a known anatomical course of the cranial nerves and their skull base s they course through the foramina towards the head and neck. CT and MRI are complimentary modalities and are often used together to map the full extent of disease. The first part of this review article series focus on the radiologic approach to disease and the skull base anatomy.