Imaging the temporal fossa

The purpose of our study was to delineate the interconnections in the temporal fossa that are visible on high-resolution clinical images. Thin-section MR images and CT scans of the temporal fossa in two normal volunteers were obtained in coronal and axial sections. MR images, CT scans, or both of 20 patients with demonstrable spread of disease were reviewed. The imaging studies of patients with disease proved more informative than images of the normal subject or the published anatomic and surgical descriptions of the temporal fossa. We recognized five discrete radiographically defined regions: the connective tissue layer, compartment of the superficial fat pad, compartment of the deep fat pad, compartment of the temporal muscle (superior recess of the suprazygomatic masticator), and subperiosteal zone. Important, tortuous, and to our knowledge undescribed interconnections between the scalp, posterior neck, eyelid, face, and the suprazygomatic masticator were delineated. Imaging studies of the temporal fossa can be used to formulate a clinically useful approach that simplifies the complex anatomy of the temporal fossa.