Sphenoid sinus types, dimensions and relationship with surrounding structures

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Abstract

The human sphenoid sinus is an extremely variable cavity and an important landmark in hypophyseal surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the sphenoid sinus type, size, extent of pneumatization and occurrence of protrusions of the adjacent neurovascular structures.

A total of 51 randomly selected skulls (≥20 years of age, 33 male; 102 sinuses) were analyzed using cone beam computed tomography to estimate pneumatization extension beyond the body of the sphenoid (planum sphenoidale, pterygoid process, greater wings, clivus, dorsum sellae) and protrusions of the maxillary, mandibular, optic or pterygoid nerve or the internal carotid artery.

Difference in pneumatization type between the left and the right-sided sinus was observed in 45% of the skulls. Conchal pneumatization was registered in 2%, presellar in 24%, sellar in 41% and postsellar in 33% of total sinuses. Presellar sinuses frequently pneumatized planum sphenoidale and sporadically other structures, and were characterized by sporadic optic nerve protrusions. Sellar and particularly postsellar sinuses were characterized by simultaneous pneumatization extensions and neurovascular protrusions. In the case of postsellar-type sinuses, the probability of these multiple interactions was not affected by their actual size, while it increased with the increasing sinus dimensions in the case of sellar-type sinuses. A more detailed analysis indicated that increasing sinus height, length or width increased the probability of interactions and pneumatization of particular surrounding structures.

Data suggest that the sphenoid sinus pneumatization type and dimensions might be used to estimate the risks of iatrogenic injury during transsphenoidal surgical procedures.

Introduction

Sphenoid sinus is considered to be the most variable cavity in the human body (Teatini et al., 1987) and is of great relevance pertaining to optimal surgical access to the pituitary gland. Transsphenoidal surgery, first applied in 1907, became a standard procedure for treatment of intrasellar lesions (Perondi et al., 2013). Compared to the alternative transcranial approach, transsphenoidal approach is more efficient and associated with lower morbidity and mortality (Aydin et al., 2007). Moreover, sphenoid sinus pneumatization may provide access to other parts of the skull base (Wang et al., 2010). Therefore, the degree and direction of sphenoid sinus pneumatization play a crucial role in the planning of surgical procedures. Awareness of the sphenoid sinus anatomical variations is essential for both avoiding iatrogenic lesions and understanding pathogenesis of the processes, which can occur in the sinus cavity.

The sphenoid sinus originates from the posterior divisions of the nasal cavity. Sinuses have been classified into four types according to the extension of pneumatization: conchal, presellar, sellar and postsellar (Fig. 1A–D). This classification is based on the location of the posterior sinus wall in respect to sella turcica. Conchal type sinuses are very small and situated behind the superior turbinate, concha nasalis superior. The sinus cavity can be restricted to the sphenoid body, but pneumatization can also extend into the greater wing and/or pterygoid process of the sphenoid, and into the basal part of the occipital bone. If the pneumatization reaches planum sphenoidale or clivus, only a thin wall separates the sinus cavity and dura mater of the anterior and posterior cranial fossa, respectively. Additionally, the sinus cavity may be in a close relationship to the canals and grooves of the sphenoid – foramen rotundum, pterygoid canal, optic canal, carotid groove and foramen ovale; i.e., with the transversing neurovascular structures: maxillary nerve, pterygoid nerve, optic nerve, internal carotid artery and mandibular nerve, respectively.

The existing analyses of the sphenoid anatomy have been focused primarily on the extensions of the sinus cavity (Kayalioglu et al., 2005, Hamid et al., 2008, Idowu et al., 2009) or on protrusions of the adjacent neurovascular structures (Omami et al., 2011, Sirikci et al., 2000, Hewaidi and Omami, 2008). Typically, they have considered the right and the left sinus as a single cavity (Güldner et al., 2012, Kayalioglu et al., 2005, Hamid et al., 2008, Idowu et al., 2009) and have suffered from a lack of uniform criteria for protrusion classification, particularly in a quantitative sense (“extent of protrusion”). We aimed to relate sphenoid sinus types and dimensions simultaneously to their interactions (protrusions) with the surrounding neurovascular structures and extensions into other parts of the sphenoid. In doing so, we considered the left and the right sinuses as separate cavities (Fig. 1E) and have proposed a novel system of quantitative classification of protrusions of the neurovascular structures. We believe that such a system, by providing uniform criteria, could improve comparability of reports by different authors. Furthermore, we believe that quantification of the extent of protrusions could be of practical relevance, as it appears plausible to assume that more prominent protrusions might convey a higher risk (incidence, severity) of iatrogenic surgical complications.

Section snippets

Skulls

A total of 51 skulls (Whites of European descent) were randomly selected from the skull collection at the Institute of Anatomy “Drago Perović” (University of Zagreb, School of Medicine) (Dumić-Čule et al., 2014). We assumed that the growth of the sphenoid sinus is completed by the end of puberty (Budu et al., 2013) and that age (after puberty) and gender have no relevant impact on the studied parameters (Tomovic et al., 2013). We therefore set the lower age limit for inclusion at 20 years, and

Description of the skulls and sinuses

Of the 51 skulls (age 20–86 years, median 60), 33 were male (age 20–80 years, median 60) and 18 were female skulls (age 21–86 years, median 63.5). As shown in Table 2, 28 skulls (54.9%) had the same type of sphenoid sinus on both sides (most commonly sellar, 25.5%), whereas the rest had different types of sinuses on the two sides, with postsellar-sellar as the most common combination (21.6%). Out of 102 sinuses, the most prevalent type was sellar (41.2%), whereas only two conchal (2%) sinuses

Discussion

Considering the importance of the sphenoid sinus in surgical management of the pituitary gland and the fact that it may provide access to other parts of the skull base (Aydin et al., 2007, Perondi et al., 2013, Wang et al., 2010), awareness of its anatomical variations is of considerable practical relevance. Among diversity of the described variations, the most important are differences in sinus type, size and shape. The sinus is also highly variable regarding its extensions outside the body of

Conclusions

In conclusion, considering the common sphenoid sinus anatomical variations, a detailed preoperative radiological evaluation is needed to ascertain a successful transsphenoidal surgical procedure (Meyers and Valvassori, 1998). However, the standard clinical radiological techniques might not be able to visualize all elements that may increase the risk of iatrogenic injury. The present analysis suggests that the regularly evaluable elements, such as sinus type and elementary dimensions (i.e.,

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