title: Gas in the cavernous sinus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the significance of cavernous sinus gas identified on head CT scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Head CT scans were viewed prospectively for a period of 3 years. The charts of patients who demonstrated cavernous sinus gas were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients without head trauma and 10 patients with head trauma demonstrated gas in the cavernous sinus. None of the patients had symptoms or developed symptoms originating in the cavernous sinus. All of the patients without trauma had an intravenous line in place. Sphenoid fractures or basilar skull fractures were not a constant finding in trauma patients with cavernous sinus gas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients without symptoms referable to the cavernous sinus, gas in the cavernous sinus does not appear to be a significant finding. The gas is most likely the result of venous air emboli from intravenous lines or penetrating trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80204.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Symonds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005740:Gases