CT evaluation of the vidian canal localization

The primary purpose of our work is to show that the vidian canal can be determined on CT imaging. The secondary goal is to establish the position and configuration of the vidian canal visualization. The CT imaging of vidian canals of 150 patients were examined in axial and coronal sections in 3 mm thickness made at 3 mm intervals. The varying course of the canal inside the bone, bone structure and diameter of the canal were investigated. In all cases, the canal was seen, and in 4 of the cases (1.3%) the canal was separated into two parts by a septum on its initial portion. In 36% of the cases it was embedded in the sphenoid corpus, partially protruded in 54% of the cases, and was connected to the bone with a stalk inside the sinus in 10% of the cases. The bony structure of the canal showed continuation in 68%, with 32% showing dehisans. The incidence of dehisans was 77% in the stalked cases and 45% in the protruded cases. It was determined that it is possible to evaluate the position and configuration of the vidian canal with CT imaging. This may be useful for diagnosing vidian nerve pathology and performing surgical intervention such as vidian neuroectomy and sinus surgery.