[A CT-based study of sphenoid sinus pneumatization]

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the anatomical variations of the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus based on CT imaging to provide guidance for endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed CT images from 427 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery at our hospital between January 2015 and December 2018. These images were analyzed to investigate the association between sphenoid sinus pneumatization types, the anatomy of its lateral wall, and the Vidian canal to foramen rotundum distance（VR）, while evaluating potential sex differences. Results:The VR values were significantly higher in the sellar type compared to the conchal and presellar types. Furthermore, the presence of a lateral sphenoid sinus recess was associated with significantly higher VR values. Additionally, within this specific subgroup with a recess, male subjects demonstrated significantly higher VR values than females. Conclusion:The VR value serves as an important anatomical parameter for preoperative assessment of surgical difficulty and for optimization of surgical planning in endoscopic approaches to the sphenoid sinus.