Anterolateral surgical triangle of the cavernous sinus: a cadaveric study of neurosurgical importance.

Abstract

The anterolateral triangle around the cavernous sinus is a surgical skull base triangle used as a neurosurgical landmark essential to skull-based surgeries. There are few reports of its measurements with little attention paid to anatomical variations. A total of 15 adult human cadaveric skulls were dissected to expose the anterolateral triangle on both sides. The triangle was defined and measurements of the three borders were taken precisely and the area of each triangle was calculated using Heron's formula. On an average, the length of the anteromedial border is 11.4 (+ 2.2mm); the length of the posteromedial border is 8.7 (+ 2.6mm); the length of the lateral border is 13.06 (+ 2.6mm) and the area of the anterolateral triangle is 48.05 (+ 17.5mm2). Concise understanding of anterolateral triangle is essential to skull-based surgeries; comprehending its anatomy helps with better surgical planning and provides insight into local pathology.