Abstract
All 377 dry skulls were examined for the occurrence and morphometry of the foramen of Vesalius (FV) both in the middle cranial fossa and at the extracranial view of the skull base. There were 25.9% and 10.9% of FV found at the extracranial view of the skull base and in the middle cranial fossa, respectively. Total patent FV were 16.1% (11.9% unilaterally and 4.2% bilaterally). Most FV were found in male and on the left side. Comparatively, FV at the extracranial view of the skull base had a larger maximum diameter. The distance between FV and the foramen ovale (FO) was as short as 2.05 ± 1.09 mm measured at the extracranial view of the skull base. In conclusion, although the existence of FV is inconstant, its occurrence could not be negligible. The proximity of FV to FO should remind neurosurgeons to be cautious when performing the surgical approach through FO.
Highlights
Among several foramina on the greater wing of sphenoid bone, the inconstant foramen of Vesalius (FV) connects the pterygoid plexus with the cavernous sinus and transmits a small emissary vein which drains the cavernous sinus [1]
The FV is located between the foramen ovale (FO) and foramen rotundum (FR), but more closely to the FO, and neurosurgery may misplace the needle during percutaneous intervention targeting the FO for treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia, resulting in severe complications such as intracranial bleeding [3]
This foramen is considered as an inconstant channel and has a widely variation reported by several studies [2,3,4,5,6]
Summary
Among several foramina on the greater wing of sphenoid bone, the inconstant foramen of Vesalius (FV) connects the pterygoid plexus with the cavernous sinus and transmits a small emissary vein which drains the cavernous sinus [1]. The FV is located between the FO and FR, but more closely to the FO, and neurosurgery may misplace the needle during percutaneous intervention targeting the FO for treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia, resulting in severe complications such as intracranial bleeding [3]. This foramen is considered as an inconstant channel and has a widely variation reported by several studies [2,3,4,5,6]. The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of occurrence and the morphometry of the FV in Thais, and these anatomical considerations may assist the surgeon to a better planning and a safer execution of percutaneous approach to the middle cranial fossa through the FO
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