Intracranial complications of temporal bone osteoradionecrosis.
OBJECTIVE: To present four cases of life-threatening intracranial complications associated with temporal bone osteoradionecrosis. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a retrospective case review of four patients combined with a literature review. SETTING: All patients were treated at Loyola University Medical Center, which is a tertiary care facility. PATIENTS: The four patients were retrospectively reviewed without demographic constraints. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent preoperative radiographic assessment (magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography scan), and three of the four patients underwent surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The role of surgical intervention in the management of advanced temporal bone osteoradionecrosis. RESULTS: Three patients underwent mastoid surgery after medical treatment of intracranial complications associated with temporal bone osteoradionecrosis. All three patients had dry, epithelialized mastoid cavities. One patient died as a result of meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: Mastoid surgery should be used in the overall management of patients with advanced temporal bone osteoradionecrosis to prevent secondary intracranial complications.