Petromastoid canal


The petromastoid (or subarcuate) canal is a channel in the petrous temporal bone that joins the mastoid antrum to the posterior cranial fossa. It contains the subarcuate artery and vein .
Classification
The canal has been categorized by its size :
- type I - invisible
- type II - less than 0.5 mm width
- type III - 0.5-1 mm width
- type IV - greater than 1 mm width
Radiographic features
CT
On petrous temporal bone fine slices, the petromastoid canal is seen as a thin canal between the anterior and posterior part of the superior semicircular canal. It can easily be mistaken for a fracture line.
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