The measurement indexes and the relationships with adjacent structures of vidian canal and foramen rotundum using computed tomography

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate vidian canal (VC) and foramen rotundum (FR) and their anatomical relationships with adjacent structures using computed tomography (CT) in a Turkish subpopulation. Material and Methods: CT images of 150 patients were retrospectively evaluated. Various morphometric measurements (distance from FRs to midline, distance from FR to VC, position and angle of FR, and types of FR and VC) were performed from both left and right sides on CT scans. Results: One hundred and fifty patients with a mean age of 41.06 ± 17.812 years were included in this study. The mean distance from midline to right FR was 17.89 ± 1.94 and 18 ± 1.83 in females and males, respectively. The mean distance from midline to left FR was 18.33 ± 1.94 and 19 ± 2.18 in females and males, respectively. Twenty-three cases had Type 1 VC and 40 and 112 cases had Type 2 and 3 VCs, respectively. Three patients had Type I FR, 25 and 57 patients had Type IIa and IIb, respectively, and 93 patients had Type III FR. The position of FRs regarding the base of lateral pterygoid plate was online in 77 patients, medially placed in 92 patients, and laterally placed in 12 patients. Discussion and Conclusion: It is important to know sphenoid sinus and neighboring anatomical structures for planning of endoscopic skull base surgery because it is located close to some important anatomical structures such as internal carotid arteries, optic nerve, and cranial nerves. Surgeons should be careful in preoperative treatment planning and also during the operation.