The Displacement Patterns of Petrous Internal Carotid Artery and Its Morphometric Relations with Vidian Canal in Petroclival Chondrosarcomas Relevant to Extended Endoscopic Endonasal Approaches: A Radiological Study.

Background: Extended endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) to petroclival chondrosarcomas (PCs) require a thorough understanding of skullbase anatomy, especially the anatomy of petrous internal carotid artery (pICA), as ICA injury is the most dreaded complication of extended EEAs. We conducted this study to determine the displacement patterns of pICA in patients with PCs.

Methods: Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan and angiography images of patients with PCs were analyzed for following parameters-antero-posterior, cranio-caudal, medio-lateral, and direct distances between anterior genu of petrous internal carotid artery (AGpICA) and posterior end of Vidian canal (pVC).