ABSTRACT
Objective To measure the reconstructed cranial CT images,and to clarify the safety range of unilateral nasal transsphenoidal approach for pituitary surgery.Methods 100 normal pituitary cranial CT images were randomly selected,and the three-dimensional reconstruction was performed by using the CT images of perpendicular and parallel to the edge of the two eyes as base line, and the distance and angle in unilateral nasal transsphenoidal approach for pituitary surgery from the sagittal plane in the middle of the nasal meatus and the plane through the tip of the nose and both ends of dorsum sellae were measured,respectively. The angles and distances were compared when grouped the data by gender and age. Results Angle A1 (the angle between the tip of the nose and the tuberculum sellae and saddle back root line in the sagittal plane)in the sagittal plane of the middle nasal meatus was (11.22±1.35)°,95% confidence interval was 8.92°-13.76°degrees;the distance D1(the distance on the line between tuberculum sellae and saddle back root, and the line was formed by the plate contained the angle A1 and sellar floor)was (16.71 ± 2.07)mm,95% confidence interval was 13.11-19.93 mm.Angle A2 (the angle between the tip of the nose and the saddle back ends)which was in the plane through the tip of the nose and both ends of dorsum sellae was (8.91±1.19)°,95% confidence interval was 7.12°-10.72°;the distance D2(the distance on the line between the saddle back ends,and the line was formed by the plate contained the angle A2 and sellar floor)was (14.23±2.09)mm,95% confidence interval was 10.81-17.92 mm. The four parameter data was normally distributed,and there was no significantly statistic difference between different gender and ages (P>0.05).Conclusion The angle of the movement for unilateral nasal transsphenoidal approach for pituitary surgery operation in the sagittal plane in the middle of the nasal meatus should be less than (11.22 ± 1.35)°,and the distance of the movement should be less than (16.71±2.07)mm. The angle of the movement in the plane through the tip of the nose and both ends of dorsum sellae should be less than (8.9 1 ± 1.1 9 )°, and the distance of the movement should be less than (14.23±2.09)mm.