Endoscopic anatomy of the sphenoidal air sinus

ABSTRACT

Advances in optics and endoscopic instrumentation have revolutionized endoscopic surgery for sellar and juxtasellar pathologies. Sphenoid sinus is more complicated than the other paranasal sinuses. Anatomical details of the sphenoid sinus relevant to utilizing the endoscope are very important. We aimed to study the anatomical variations of the sphenoid sinus in cadavers building up an experience that can aid application in clinical cases. An endoscopic study for the sphenoid sinus was carried out on 15 cadavers and 10 patients with pituitary adenomas during the microscopic removal of these adenomas. The results were discussed with particular reference to the important endoscopic, anatomical and surgical features of the sphenoid sinus. Anatomical variants can be identified endoscopically. Knowing about and expecting these variations have a great role in improving the surgical performance and the operative outcome: