The neurosurgical anatomy of the sphenoid sinus and sellar floor in endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery

Object. A considerable degree of variability exists in the anatomy of the sphenoid sinus, sella turcica, and surrounding skull base structures. The authors aimed to characterize neuroimaging and intraoperative variations in the sagittal and coronal surgical anatomy of healthy controls and patients with sellar lesions. Methods. Magnetic resonance imaging studies obtained in 100 healthy adults and 78 patients with sellar lesions were reviewed. The following measurements were made on midline sagittal images: sellar face, sellar prominence, sellar angle, tuberculum sellae angle, sellar-clival angle, length of planum sphenoidale, and length of clivus. The septal configuration of the sphenoid sinus was classified as either simple or complex, according to the number of septa, their symmetry, and their morphological features. The following measurements were made on coronal images: maximum width of the sphenoid sinus and sellar face, and the distance between the parasellar and midclivus internal carotid arteries. Neuroimaging results were correlated with intraoperative findings during encloscopic transsphenoidal surgery. Results. Three sellar floor morphologies were defined in normal adults: prominent (sellar angle of < 90 degrees) in 25%, curved (sellar angle 90-150 degrees) in 63%, flat (sellar angle > 150 degrees) in 11%, and no floor (conchal sphenoid) in 1%. In healthy adults, the following mean measurements were obtained: sellar face, 13.4 mm; sellar prominence, 3.0 mm; sellar angle, 112 degrees; angle of tuberculum sellae, 112 degrees; and sellar-clival angle, 117 degrees. Compared with healthy adults, patients with sellar lesions were more likely to have prominent sellar types (43% vs 25%, p = 0.01), a more acute sellar angle (102 degrees vs 112 degrees, p = 0.03), a more prominent sellar floor (3.8 vs 3.0 mm, p < 0.005), and more acute tuberculum (105 degrees vs 112 degrees, p < 0.01) and sellar-clival (105 degrees vs 117 degrees, p < 0.003) angles. A flat sellar floor was more difficult to identify intraoperatively and more likely to require the use of a chisel or drill to expose (75% vs 25%, p = 0.01). A simple sphenoid sinus configuration (no septa, 1 vertical septum, or 2 symmetric vertical septa) was noted in 71% of studies, and the other 29% showed a complex configuration (2 or more asymmetrical septa, 3 or more septa of any kind, or the presence of a horizontal septum). Intraoperative correlation was more challenging in cases with complex sinus anatomy; the most reliable intraoperative midline markers were the vomer, superior sphenoid rostrum, and bilateral parasellar and clival carotid protuberances. Conclusions. Preoperative assessment of neuroimaging studies is critical for characterizing the morphological characteristics of the sphenoid sinus, sellar floor, tuberculum sellae, and clivus. The flat sellar type identified in 11% of people) or a complex sphenoid sinus configuration (in 29% of people) may make intraoperative correlation substantially more challenging. An understanding of the regional anatomy and its variability can improve the safety and accuracy of transsphenoidal and extended encloscopic skull base approaches. (DOI: 10.3171/2010.11.JNS10768)