title: Morphometric study of the upper thoracic sympathetic Ganglia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Morphometric data for the sympathetic ganglia (SG) of the upper thoracic spine was investigated to identify the exact location of the SG in order to reduce normal tissue injury in the thoracic cavity during thoracoscopic sympathectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 46 specimens from 23 formalin-fixed adult cadavers, the authors measured the shortest distance from the medial margin of the T1, T2 and T3 SG to the most prominent point and medial margin of the corresponding rib heads, and to the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle. In addition, the distance between the most prominent point of the rib head and the lateral margin of longus colli muscle and the width of each SG were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The shortest distance from the medial margin of the SG to the prominent point of corresponding rib head was on average 1.9 mm on T1, 4.2 mm, and 4.1 mm on T2, T3. The distance from the medial margin of the SG to the medial margin of the corresponding rib head was 4.2 mm on T1, 5.9 mm, and 6.3 mm on T2, T3. The mean distance from the medial margin of the SG to the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle was 6.7 mm on T1, 8.8 mm, 9.9 and mm on T2, T3. The mean distance between the prominent point of the rib head and the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle was 4.8 mm on T1, 4.6 mm, and 5.9 mm on T2, T3. The mean width of SG was 6.1 mm on T1, 4.1 mm, and 3.1 mm on T2, T3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present morphometric data to assist in surgical planning and the localization of the upper thoracic SG during thoracoscopic sympathectomy.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang Beom
authors: SB
authors: Lee
authors: Jae Chil
authors: JC
authors: Chang
authors: Sukh Que
authors: SQ
authors: Park
authors: Sung Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Cho
authors: Soon Kwan
authors: SK
authors: Choi
authors: Hack Gun
authors: HG
authors: Bae