Abstract:

Objective　To investigate the relationships between the bulges of the internal carotid arteries (ICA) in the sphenoid and the volume of the sphenoid by CT study.　Methods　The incidence of the bulges of the ICA were observed on 350 subjects without abnormal paranasal sinus diseases by CT, and then these subjects which were drawn randomly out the results were divided into three groups (group of NO bulge of ICA, one bulge and double bulges separately) and each group consisted of 30 subjects. The volume of the sphenoid was measured and the relation between sphenoid volume and bulges of ICA were analyzed.　Results　Group of No bulges of ICA in the sphenoid sinus were seen in 70.75% (258 subjects), one bulg in 8.49% (31 subjects), and double bulges in 20.74% (108 subjects). The sphenoid volume was (11.16±1.60) cm3 in NO bulge of ICA, (14.20±1.80) cm3 in one bulge and (25.03±2.21) cm3 in double bulges. There was significant difference between each group.　Conclusions　The volume of sphenoid is correlated with the incidence of the bulges in the sphenoid. If the volume of sphenoid is small, the incidence of the bulge is lower, otherwise, the larger volume with the higher incidence.

Key words: Sphenoid sinus, Volume, Morphology, Endoscopic surgery