Microsurgical anatomy of the cavernous sinus:: Measurements of the triangles in and around it

Objectives: Since the pioneering work of Parkinson, several studies have described the microsurgical anatomy and surgical procedures involving the cavernous sinus (CS). A proposed geometric construct has been adopted as nomenclature for the region by many neurosurgeons. However, authors differ in naming and describing some of these triangular spaces. The purpose of this study is to present the anatomy and measure the dimensions of the 10 triangles in and around this region. Materials and Methods: Eighteen CS of five cadaveric heads and four skull bases fixed in formalin were dissected using 3 x to 40 x magnification of the surgical microscope. The heads and skull bases were injected with colored silicone and the sides and area of the triangles were measured. Each cadaveric head was placed in a Sugita head-holder and a cranio-orbitozygomatic approach and a combined extra- and intradural approach were performed. The last step was the detachment of the brain from the skull base and measurement of the inferolateral paraclival and inferomedial paraclival triangles. Results: The measurements of the medial border, lateral border, and base of each triangle as well as the standard deviation and area are presented. The posteromedial middle fossa triangle was the largest and the clinoidal triangle the smallest. Conclusions: The normal anatomy of the CS triangle and its areas are important in the approach of the CS lesions because these spaces are natural corridors through which the lesions can be reached. The same concept must be used for the triangles around this space. Whenever these geometric spaces might be distorted by pathology or surgical maneuvers, the surgeon must have precise knowledge about their normal sizes.