Fig. 5
From: The pterygopalatine fossa: imaging anatomy, communications, and pathology revisited
a NPC in a 50-year-old male patient. Axial contrast-enhanced T1W MR image shows an enhancing mass in the right side of the nasopharynx with direct extension into the medial half of the right PPF (arrow) via the right SPF (asterisk). b NPC in a 46-year-old male patient. Axial contrast-enhanced, FS T1W MR image shows an enhancing mass in the nasopharynx extending into the left nasal cavity and showing bilateral involvement of the PPFs (thin arrows). From the PPFs, there is retrograde PNS via bilateral Vidian nerves (arrowheads) with extension up to the left foramen lacerum (thick arrow). c Extensive stage 4 NPC in a 60-year-old male patient. Coronal contrast-enhanced FS T1W MR image shows extension of the tumour into the right ITF (thick arrow) and into the right orbit (thin arrow) via the PPF (asterisk). d Recurrent NPC in a 55-year-old female patient. Coronal contrast-enhanced FS T1W MR image shows an enhancing soft-tissue mass in the left side of the nasopharynx (thick arrow), with extension into the left PPF (curved arrow), leading to PNS along the left foramen rotundum (thin straight arrow). There is also involvement of the left middle cranial fossa (arrowhead)