The petrosquamosal sinus in humans
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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Diego San Millán Ruíz1, Philippe Gailloud, Hasan Yilmaz
1Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. diego.sanmillan@hcuge.ch
Abstract:
This article provides a comprehensive description of the morphology of the human petrosquamosal sinus (PSS) derived from original observations made on 13 corrosion casts of the cranial venous system combined with routine clinical imaging studies in two patients. The PSS is not a rare finding in the adult human. In particular, continuous developments in imaging techniques have made radiologists become increasingly aware of this anatomical entity in recent years. The role of the PSS as a major encephalic drainage pathway and its potential implication in pathological conditions such as intracranial venous hypertension are discussed.
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