Abstract
Goal: The aim of this work is to study the relationship between the pneumatization of the adjacent structures of sphenoid sinuses and the protrusion of the neurovascular structures in the sinuses. Methods: A review of 225 CT scans skull was done for subjects aged at least 16 years old from November 1st to December 31st 2017. The pneumatization of adjacent structures of sphenoid sinuses and its relation with the protrusion of neurovascular structures surround the sinuses have been investigated. We used Fischer Exact test for comparison. The p value < 0.05 was expressed as significant. Results: Statistically significant associations were found between anterior clinoid process bilateral pneumatization and bilateral protrusion of carotid canal (p < 0.05) and of optic canal (p < 0.001). There were also, statistically significant correlations between bilateral pterygoid process pneumatization and bilateral protrusion of carotid canal and of optic canal (p < 0.001); and between pterygoid process bilateral pneumatization and bilateral protrusion of maxillary and vidian nerves (p < 0.001). An association was also found between bilateral pneumatization of great wings and bilateral protrusion of maxillary nerves (p < 0.001) and of vidian nerves (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared to the literature, the prevalence of pneumatization of the adjacent structures of sphenoid sinuses was lower on Beninese than Caucasian and Asian. But there were the same correlations with the protrusion of neurovascular structures. In case of endonasal surgery of the sphenoid sinuses, surgeon should be aware of the high possibility the injury of optic nerves and internal carotid artery.
Highlights
The variability of the anatomy of the sphenoid sinuses is well documented [1] [2] [3]
We studied the pneumatization of anterior clinoid processes, of pterygoid processes, of lesser and great wings; the protrusion of carotid canals and of optic canals, the protrusion of maxillary and vidian nerves
Pneumatization of lesser and great wings of the sphenoid were observed in 3.3% and Anatomic variations Pneumatizaton Lesser wing Great wing
Summary
The variability of the anatomy of the sphenoid sinuses is well documented [1] [2] [3]. Sphenoid sinuses are surrounded by vital neurovascular structures, such as the internal carotid artery, opticnerves, maxillary and vidian nerves. The description of these anatomic variants in different populations gives useful information [6] [7] [8]. Few articles studied the relationship between pneumatization of adjacent structures of sphenoid sinuses and protrusion of neurovascular structures in black Africans [6]. The current work aimed to study the relationship between bilateral pneumatization of adjacent structures of sphenoid sinuses and bilateral protrusion of surrounding neurovascular structures at the National and University Teaching Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga of Cotonou (CNHU-HKM/Cotonou)
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