Anterior Sylvian point, morphometric classification, and surgical utility.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Neuroanatomy
• Microsurgical anatomy

Background:

• The anterior Sylvian point (ASP) is a critical landmark in the Sylvian fissure (SF), located between the frontal and temporal lobes.
• Objective morphometric data and correlation with microsurgical approaches for the ASP remain limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively describe the morphometric variations of the ASP.
• To classify these variations and correlate them with potential microsurgical implications.

Main Methods:

• A morphometric analysis of 40 cerebral hemispheres was conducted.
• The anterior Sylvian point (ASP) was measured in millimeters (mm) using digital registration.
• Results were classified into three types (A: <5 mm, B: 5.1-10 mm, C: >10 mm).

Main Results:

• A considerable morphometric variation of the ASP was identified and classified into three types.
• Type B (5.1-10 mm) was the most frequent, observed in 45% of right and 40% of left hemispheres.
• Type A (<5 mm) followed, with Type C (>10 mm) being least common.

Conclusions:

• The study identified and classified significant morphometric variations of the ASP into three types.
• Validation of these measurements is crucial for microsurgical applications involving SF openings.
• ASP types B and C may offer less technical difficulty and time during microsurgery compared to type A.