Open AccessThe Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Lateral Recess of the Sphenoid Sinus Via the Pterygopalatine Fossa: Comparison Of Endoscopic and Radiological Landmarks
Author(s) -
Francesco Magro,
Domenico Solari,
Luigi Maria Cavallo,
Amir Samii,
Paolo Cappabianca,
Vincenzo Paternò,
Wolf Lüdemann,
Enrico de Divitiis,
Madjid Samii
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
operative neurosurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.791
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 2332-4260
pISSN - 2332-4252
DOI - 10.1227/01.neu.0000233977.79721.17
Subject(s) - pterygopalatine fossa , medicine , sinus (botany) , dissection (medical) , anatomy , cadaver , lateral recess , endoscopy , endoscope , endoscopic endonasal surgery , sphenoid bone , radiology , skull , botany , lumbar , biology , genus
OBJECTIVE: The endoscopic endonasal approach offers the opportunity to reach the ptery-gopalatine fossa, the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus, and other areas of the cranial base through a minimally invasive approach. This study compares the anatomy of these areas when observed through an endoscopic endonasal view with the anatomy of the same regions as they appear in computed tomographic scans. The aim was to identify and correlate the corresponding anatomic structures, providing the surgeons with anatomic landmarks to guide them when operating in these areas through an endoscopic endonasal approach. METHODS: An anatomic dissection of six fixed cadaver heads was performed by an endoscopic endonasal approach. A step-by-step comparison of endoscopic and radiological images was made to identify the landmarks of the surgical field. RESULTS: The step-by-step comparison of endoscopic and radiological images acquired during the endoscopic endonasal approach to the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus via the pterygopalatine fossa allowed the identification of all the relevant anatomic landmarks of the procedure. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic endonasal approach via the pterygopalatine fossa offers direct, minimally invasive access to the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus, which can be monitored in each phase through consistent radiological imagery.