Analysis of the tortuosity of the internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus.
BACKGROUND
The morphology of the internal carotid artery at the skull base is important in radiologic interpretation, surgery, and more recently, endovascular interventional and diagnostic procedures. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of the shape of the carotid siphon can be important in the clinical realm.


METHODS
In this study, we evaluated the shape of the carotid siphon from a lateral perspective on cerebral angiography. These shapes were then correlated to the Lang and Reiter classification.


RESULTS
Types A, B, and C were distributed as follows: type A 12 (30%), B 16 (40%), 12 (30%). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in patient ages between the three types (type A 54.6 ± 14.2 years, type B 55.1 ± 14.9 years, and type C 52.7 ± 16.9 years). Normalized for gender disproportion, there was no significant gender predominance for any type (type A female:male = 1.4:1; type B female:male = 1.1:1; type C female:male = 0.7:1).


CONCLUSIONS
Such a classification scheme with additional application in another group might be of use to future studies aimed at the morphology of the cavernous part of the internal carotid artery.
Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Christoph J
CJ
Griessenauer
Bulent
B
Yalcin
Petru
P
Matusz
Marios
M
Loukas
Charles G
CG
Kulwin
R Shane
RS
Tubbs
Aaron A Cohen
AA
Gadol
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged