Imaging of Pediatric Skull Base Lesions

Skull base lesions are relatively uncommon in the pediatric population. Accurate assessment of the location and extent of these lesions and involvement of osseous and neurovascular structures of the skull base is critical for diagnosis, clinical decision-making, and guiding surgical management. Imaging plays a key role in this regard. The aim of this pictorial review was to familiarize the reader with the spectrum and imaging features of various skull base lesions in children. In addition, a brief review of pertinent embryology and anatomy of the skull base as well as imaging pitfalls is provided.

Learning Objective: To understand the anatomy of pediatric skull base, the strengths and limitations of various imaging techniques, and the important imaging features of pediatric skull base lesions.