Applied anatomy of the sphenoid sinus wall under transnasal endoscopic surgery of the sellar region

OBJECTIVE To explore the subdivision and quantitative relationship of sphenoid sinus wall and its related structures, provide the 3-D anatomic basis for the transnasal endoscopic surgery of the sellar region. METHODS Ten adult cadaveric skull base were dissected, the angles and distances of the related structures were measured according to the # shape subdivision. A mimic transnasal endoscopic surgery of sellar resion was performed and observed. RESULTS The angle between optic chiasm plane and sellar floor prominence is(121±8.52)°, the angle between the cavernous sinus plane and sellar floor plane is(129 ±9.35)°, the angle between the clivus plane and the sellar floor plane is(124±7.54)°. The distances from optic-carotid recess to anterior limbus of the sellar floor prominence, posterior limbus of clivus, and posterior bend of the internal carotid artery were(5.54 ±1.86)mm,(22.43±1.96)mm,(15.86±2.13)mm respectively; A 3-D model of the sphenoid sinus wall # shape subdivision could be conducted according to the measurement results. CONCLUSION The 3-D model of the sphenoid sinus wall with # shape subdivision enrich the contents of the # shape subdivision and enable it to guide surgery more conveniently.