title: Eustachian tube communicating with sphenoid sinus: report of a novel anatomical variant.
abstract: Reports of congenital anomalies of the Eustachian Tube (ET) are scarce, and often associated with chromosomal abnormalities. We report a unique case of a completely bony left Eustachian tube which communicated with the sphenoid sinus. This report details these findings and discusses the potential embryological basis and implications of such an unusual anatomy, in the context of a comprehensive literature review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK. afroze.khan@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Afroze S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4900-7660
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Yiannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pilavakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Rami J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Salib
mesh_terms: D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008416:Mastoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Anatomy; Development; Embryology; Eustachian tube; Paranasal sinuses; Sinus; Sphenoid