Study of the pneumatisation of sphenoid sinus and structures related to the sphenoid sinus in CT

OBJECTIVE To study the pneumatisation of sphenoid sinus,explore the relation between the sphenoid sinus and structures related to the sphenoid sinus in CT. To provide data as basis for nasal endoscopic surgery of sella and clivus. METHODS High resolution CT scan in coronal and axial planes of 100 adults and 50 adolescents was studied. RESULTS The pneumatisation of sphenoid sinus can be subdivided into the pneumatisation of the sphenoid body and the one of related structures,and there are no distinct differences between adults and adolescents. The pneumatic rates of the greater wing,lesser wing,pterygoid process,sellar dorsum of sphenoid bone,and occipital bone are 7.3%,8.0%,28.7%,9.3%,and 4.0% respectively. The protuberant type of internal carotid artery,optic nerve,rotundum canal,and pterygoid canal were related with the degree of pneumatization of the sphenoid bone. CONCLUSION The pneumatisation of sphenoid sinus,the protuberant type of internal carotid artery,optic nerve,rotundum canal,and pterygoid canal,are difference among individual person. The sphenoid sinus and structures related to the sphenoid sinus had fully developed in adolescent as for nasal endoscopic surgery.