[High resolution computerized tomography for the determination of fractures of the base of the skull, particularly the petrous bone].

Using high resolution CT, the high spatial resolution is comparable to conventional pluridirectional tomography. The small pixel size allows visualization of minute fractures of the skull base or the petrous bone. High resolution CT clearly demonstrated 32 fractures of the skull base, 14 of them passing through the petrous pyramids. The CT examination with the high resolution mode can be performed at the same time as the regular CT examination of the brain. This procedure is less time consuming and safer for the traumatized patient than the separate examination of the brain and the skull base with regular CT and conventional tomography respectively. As with conventional radiologic methods, the fractures are best demonstrated if they are oriented at right angles to the scanning plane. Fractures parallel to the scanning plane be missed. Therefore, additional direct coronal scans may be necessary for the accurate demonstration of fractures of the skull base.