title: The anatomic relationship around the horizontal segment of petrous internal carotid artery: a study based on reconstructed computed tomography angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The anatomic relationship around the horizontal segment of petrous internal carotid artery (ICA) is complicated. Relative researches on human patients using radiographic technique are scarce. It is essential to get adequate anatomic knowledge about this region for performing some bypass procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the independent software Mimics, we prospectively studied the 0.45-mm-thick computed tomography angiography (CTA) images of 29 patients (58 sides). All patients' middle cranial fossa and related critical anatomic structures were reconstructed in 3D. Some measurements were established on the multiplanar reconstructed images, including the distance from foramen ovale and foramen spinosum to the petrous ICA; the distance from the lumen of cochlea to the edge of trigeminal impression and petrous ICA; and the length of the horizontal segment of petrous ICA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The horizontal segment of petrous ICA was surrounded by the trigeminal impression, the cochlea and the auditory tube spatially. On the multiplanar reconstructed CTA images, the average distances from foramen ovale and foramen spinosum to the petrous ICA were 4.1 mm and 5.8 mm, respectively; the average distance from the lumen of cochlea to the edge of trigeminal impression and petrous ICA were 8.2 mm and 2.0 mm, respectively; and the mean length of the horizontal segment of petrous ICA was 15.8 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate adequate and reliable anatomic information can be obtained using reconstructed CTA on an individualized basis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83, Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China.
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fang-lu
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pei-dong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D035301:Cranial Fossa, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D054085:Foramen Ovale / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide