Is There a Relationship between the Height of the Ethmoid Roof and The Anterior Ethmoidal Artery Tract in Children and Adolescents?

Abstract

Aim: The anterior ethmoidal artery course and the height of the ethmoid roof should be determined in paranasal sinus surgery to avoid complications. In this study, the relationship between anterior skull base height and anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) anatomy was tried to be determined in children and adolescents.
 Methods: The cranial magnetic resonance imaging of participants between 24 months and 18 years of age, who had no cranial pathology between 2014 and 2018, were re-examined. Of the participants, 101 (50.5%) were male. The participants were divided into age groups. All measurements were made in the section on the T2-weighted coronal plane images. The AEA’s entry points into the nasal cavity were determined. The ethmoid roof height was determined according to the line drawn on the medial rectus muscle from the roof.
 Results: The ethmoid roof was type II in 97 (48.5%) of all cases. The AEA entry was on the skull base in 131 cases (65.5%) on the right and 154 cases (77%) on the left. In the 25 cases (12.5%), the AEA entry point was asymmetrical. No significant correlation was found between the ethmoid roof depth and AEA entry (p = 0.553 and 0.504).
 Conclusion: No relation was found between ethmoid roof height and sex or age. In adults, however, it was found to differ by sex. In MRI examination, the ethmoid roof depth is not a guide for AEA placement in children, which should be considered to avoid complications during operations.