The Trautmann triangle, the area through which infection spreads from the middle ear cleft to the posterior cranial fossa and cerebellum, is bounded anteriorly by the bony labyrinth, superiorly by the superior petrosal sinus, and posteriorly by the:

• A Sigmoid sinus ✓
• B Internal auditory meatus
• C Arcuate eminence
• D Jugular bulb

Explanation

The Trautmann triangle is a dural-facing area of the posterior surface of the petrous temporal bone bounded by the bony labyrinth anteriorly, the superior petrosal sinus superiorly, and the sigmoid (lateral) sinus posteriorly. Because the intervening bone here can be thin or deficient, infection from the antrum reaches the posterior fossa dura, causing cerebellar abscess or extradural collections at this site. The jugular bulb lies inferiorly and is not part of this boundary.

Reference: Scott-Brown's Essential Otorhinolaryngology, 3rd ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.