[The clinic anatomy of operation on pterygopalatine fossa through nasal cavity under endoscope]
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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Qinxiu Zhang1, Jian Zou, Shixi Liu
1Department of Otolaryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Objective:
To provide anatomic data of pterygopalatine fossa(PPF) for endoscopic PPF surgery.
Method:
Fifteen wet adult skull specimen fixed in 10% formaldehyde were studies. From center the skulls were sawed, the middle and inferior turbinate were resected, the anterior and posterior ethmoid sinuses were resected. Then after punch out perpendicular part of palatine bone and posterior wall of maxillary,the pterygopalatine fossa were showed and some related measurements were made.
Result:
This pathway can lead to a good view of pterygopalatine fossa. The main soft structures in PPF were maxillary artery and nerve with their branches. The diameter of artery branches was smaller than 3 mm.
Conclusion:
The endoscopic PPF surgery is safe and practical from the anatomic data.
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