Gradenigo's syndrome revisited.

In 1907, Gradenigo described the syndrome of constant otorrhea, headache, and diplopia which he attributed to inflammation of the petrous apex. In 1908, Baldenweck described the pathology of petrositis. Renewed interest in this syndrome occurred 20 years later through the papers of Eagleton, Kopetsky and Almour, Frenckner, and Ramadier. Various surgical approaches were described during the 1930's by Eagleton, Frenckner, Ramadier, and on this continent by Lempert. In 1932, Lillie and Williams reported two cases of petrositis from the Mayo Clinic. Stacey Guild in 1935 and John Lindsay in 1938 reported on the pathology of petrositis in post mortem cases. After the advance of chemotherapy, Thornell and Williams in 1946, emphasized the need for adequate surgical drainage. In 1958 DeWeese reported three cases of petrositis with the admonition "Lest we forget that this condition still occurs". The purpose of this paper is to present a case of petrositis and to stress the importance of modern radiological techniques in its diagnosis and management.