Relationship Between the Protrusion of the Optic Nerve and Internal Carotid Artery and Sphenoid Sinus Volume

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the protrusion of the optic nerve (ON) and internal carotid artery (ICA) and sphenoid sinus volume.Methods: A total of 142 patients (284 sphenoid sinuses) were included in the study. The study population was classified into the four groups according to ON and ICA protrusion into the sphenoid sinuses as follows: no protrusion of any structure (group 1); protrusion of ICA (group 2); protrusion of ON (group 3); and protrusion of both ICA and ON (group 4). A three-dimensional volumetric assessment of the bilateral sphenoid sinuses was performed with ITK-SNAP 3.8.0 software separately for both sides.Results: Group 1 was the most common group and included 138 sinuses (48.6%), while group 3 was the rarest group and included 25 sinuses (8.8%). Statistically significant differences in the volume of sphenoid sinus were found between group 1 and group 2 (p=0.002) and group 1 and group 4 (p<0.001).Conclusion: Larger sphenoid sinuses have a higher probability of ICA protrusion compared to smaller sphenoid sinuses. Although ON protrusion is considered to be rarer than ICA protrusion, it can be observed regardless of the volume of the sphenoid sinuses.

Automated summary

Larger sphenoid sinuses are more likely to have ICA protrusion, while ON protrusion, although rarer than ICA protrusion, can be observed regardless of the volume of the sphenoid sinuses.