Fossa of Rosenmüller
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Smith D, Skalina T, et al. Fossa of Rosenmüller. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1353
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rID:
1353
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Derek Smith had no recorded disclosures.
View Derek Smith's current disclosures
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11 times, by
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Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Pharyngeal recess
- Lateral pharyngeal recess
- Lateral nasopharyngeal recess
- Fossa of Rosenmüller
- Fossa of Rosenmuller
The fossa of Rosenmüller, also known as the posterolateral pharyngeal recess, is the most common site of origin for nasopharyngeal carcinoma 5.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
It is located superior and posterior to the torus tubarius (the posterior projection of the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube) and is formed by mucosal reflection over the longus colli muscle 2. The fossa of Rosenmüller appears posterior and superior to the ostium of the Eustachian tube on axial and coronal images respectively 3.
Radiographic features
MRI
The pharyngeal recesses may be asymmetrical and contain fluid.
History and etymology
Named after Johann Christian Rosenmüller (1771-1820), a German anatomist.
Related pathology
References
- 1. DeVita VT, Devita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles Practice of Oncology, 7th ed. Section 2: Treatment of head and neck cancers. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2005.
- 2. Chong VF and Fan YF. Radiology of the nasopharynx: pictorial essay. Australas Radiol 2000 Feb; 44(1) 5-13
- 3. Silver AJ, Mawad ME, Hilal SK, Sane P, and Ganti SR. Computed tomography of the nasopharynx and related spaces. Part I: Anatomy. Radiology 1983 Jun; 147(3) 725-31
- 4. Lloyd SK, Di Cuffa RA, Seymour FK, Savy LE, Grant HR. Cysts of the fossa of Rosenmüller: report of two cases. (2010) Ear, nose, & throat journal. 89 (8): E19-21. Pubmed
- 5, Shreya Sinha & Ajeet Gajra. Nasopharyngeal Cancer. StatPearls Publishing. 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459256/ - Pubmed
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