title: Radiologic anatomy of the sphenoid sinus for intranasal surgery.
abstract: Endoscopic surgery of the sphenoid sinus can present the operator with a considerable challenge. The relationship of the sphenoid sinuses, in particular on the lateral wall, to the carotid artery, optic nerve, as well as the other anatomic structures, is of utmost importance. Surgical complications can occur because of a lack of orientation during dissection. To avoid the complications or lessen, somehow, the rate of complications, some described the technique consisting of the opening of the sphenoid sinus ostium medially. We studied 69 axial high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of temporal bones to reveal the relationship of sphenoid sinus to the vital structures and to get some measurements in the sphenoid sinus. The lateral distance from the sphenoid ostium revealed that the lateral distance was about the distance between both ostea. We consider that in selected cases the dissection might be carried out laterally from the sphenoid ostium for safe enlargement of the ostium and approaching the sinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Celal Bayar University Medical School, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goktan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tarhan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egrilmez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed