Effect of Sphenoid Sinus Pneumatization on the Surgical Windows for Extended Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery.

Background: Little is known on the impact of the pattern and extent of pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus (SS) on the dimensions of the surgical windows used in extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches. We therefore investigated whether the distances between the 2 optic canals and between the paired paraclival carotid arteries are influenced by the pattern and extent of pneumatization of the SS.

Methods: One hundred high-resolution computed tomography scans from 47 adult female and 53 adult male patients were analyzed.