Cholesterol granuloma in the petrous apex: A case report

Abstract

A-72-year-old man admitted with the complaint of mild right facial numbness and headache. His neurological examination revealed facial paresthesia on the right over the distribution of second division of the trigeminal nerve. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging showed an expansive lesion in the right petrous apex. The patient underwent surgery via right suboccipital retrosigmoid approach and the tumor was totally removed. Microscopic examination revealed a cholesterol granuloma. The suboccipital approach can be safely used in cases which have lesions invading posterior fossa and causing the clinical picture.