Transnasal approach to the anterior skull base: an endoscopic anatomic study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to locate the constant anatomic landmarks for anterior skull base surgery via endoscopic transnasal approach in Chinese subjects.


METHODS
Eight cases of adult skull specimens (all Chinese) were dissected by the endoscopic transnasal approach. The relationships of the anatomic landmarks under endoscopic view were characterized. The distance between the columella and the anterior ethmoid artery (AEA) or the posterior ethmoid artery (PEA) was measured.


RESULTS
The uncinate process attached to the lamina papyracea in 7 sides (43.8%), to the skull base in 4 sides (25%), and to the middle turbinate in 3 sides (18.8%). In addition, the uncinate process was found to have bifurcated attachment in 2 sides (12.5%).The mean ± SD distance from the columella to the AEA was 62.71 ± 2.18 mm on the right side and 63.38 ± 1.69 mm on the left side. The mean ± SD distance from the columella to the PEA was 70.91 ± 1.99 mm on the right side and 71.79 ± 1.95 mm on the left side.


CONCLUSIONS
The frontal recess, the AEA, and the PEA can serve as the constant landmarks in the transnasal endoscopic approach to the anterior skull base.
From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; and †Institution of Otorhinolaryngology of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Yu
Y
Zong
Xiangcui
X
Li
Yiming
Y
Jiang
Ji
J
Xu
Jiping
J
Li
D000328:Adult; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D044466:Asian People; D002102:Cadaver; D002681:China; D004724:Endoscopy; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019291:Skull Base / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery