Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2013, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (1): 47-50.

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Evaluation of relationship between sphenoid sinus and clivus with CT in transsphenoidal approach to clival region

FANG Qiong 1,2,  JIANG An-hong3, PANG Gang1,  ZHANG Zi-xuan1, DENG Xue-fei1,TAO Ye4,YANG Xian-ming4,HAN Hui1   

  1. 1.Department of Anatomy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; 2. Department of Anatomy, Anhui Medical College, Hefei 230601, China; 3. Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hosipital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; 4. Department of otorhinolaryngology, the Second Affiliated Hosipital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China
  • Received:2012-09-18 Published:2013-01-29

Abstract:

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the sphenoid sinus and clivus with CT, serving to provide an anatomic basis for design of a transsphenoidal approach to the clival region. Methods A total of 30 patients underwent thin-layer head scan with 64-slice spiral CT, the sagittal images were reconstructed in AW 4.2 workspace. The incidence of the clival recess, the area of the sphenoid sinus, the thickness and height of the clivus behind the sphenoid sinus, and the relationship between them were analysed in the midsagittal plane. Results The thickness of clivus in 73% of patients was less than 6.0 mm, while the height of the clivus was more than 9.0 mm. The incidence of the clival recess was 63%. When the clival recess was present, the thickness of clivus was (1.8±1.1)mm; The thickness of clivus was less than 6.0 mm in 10% of patients with no clival recess. There was negative linear correlation between the area of the sphenoid sinus and the thickness of the clivus. The thickness of clivus in 17% of patients was more than 6.0 mm, while the area of the sphenoid sinus was more than 3 cm2. Conclusion The assessment of thickness of the clivus and the clival recess with CT is useful in designing the individualized transsphenoidal approach to the clival region.

Key words: Transsphenoidal approach, Clival region, Preoperative evaluation, CT

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