Pathology of the sphenoid sinus, namely isolated sphenoiditis, is a rare but relevant disease. As of today, it is impossible to perform modern surgical interventions using high technologies without knowledge of the features of the cranial anatomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the shape of the sphenoid sinus ostium in people with different craniotypes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The article presents our own experience of examining 50 cadavers (24 men, 26 women) and 12 patients (7 men, 5 women). Shape of the sphenoid sinuses’ ostium and craniotype of the subjects were analyzed. The cephalic index was calculated for determination of craniotype. The longitudinal (from glabella point to opisthokranion point) and transverse (distance between euryon points) dimensions of the skull were measured. All examined subjects were divided into three groups according to the craniotype: dolichocephaly, mesocephaly, brachycephaly. The revealed ostiums of the sphenoid sinuses were classified by shape: circle, oval and slit.
RESULTS
The oval shape of the natural ostium of the sphenoid sinus is most often detected, which was verified in 31 (50%) cases, this form of the ostium is statistically significantly more common in people with brachycephalic (38.7%) and mesocephalic craniotypes (58.1%) compared with dolichocephals (3.2%). The natural round-shaped ostium is on the second place in terms of detection frequency — 23 (37.1%) cases. The obtained results indicate that the round shape of the sphenoid sinus ostium is statistically significantly more common in people with brachycephalic craniotype (7.9%) compared with mesocephals (26.1%) and does not occur in dolichocephals. The slit—like ostium is the rarest anatomical variant (8 out of 62 subjects, 12.9%). The slit-shaped ostium is not observed in people with brachycephalic craniotype and occurs with the same frequency in mesocephals and dolichocephals.
CONCLUSION
Determination of the patient’s craniotype will allow predicting the shape of the natural ostium at the preoperative stage, that is important when planning surgical intervention on the sphenoidal sinus.
