Radiological Study of the Ethmoidal Arteries in the Nasal Cavity and Its Pertinence to the Endoscopic Surgeon

• Published in: Indian journal of otolaryngology, and head, and neck surgery and head, and neck surgery, 2019-11, Vol.71 (Suppl 3), p.1994-1999
• Main Authors: Kho, Jasmine P. Y., Tang, Ing Ping, Tan, Kia Sing, Koa, Ai Jiun, Prepageran, Narayanan, Rajagopalan, Raman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Endoscopy; Head and Neck Surgery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mesentery; Original; Original Article; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology; Sinuses
• ISSN: 2231-3796; 0973-7707
• DOI: 10.1007/s12070-018-1415-3

We studied the ethmoidal arteries using preexisting computer tomography of the paranasal sinuses (CT PNS) and statistically scrutinized data obtained between genders. A descriptive study from 77 CT PNS dated January 2016–December 2016 were collected and reviewed by two radiologists. A total of 54 (108 sides) CT PNS were studied of patients aged 18–77 years. 37 are male, 17 are female; with Bumiputera Sarawak predominance of 25 patients, 12 Malays, 16 Chinese and one Indian. Rate of identification are as follows: anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA)-100%, middle ethmoidal artery (MEA)-30%, posterior ethmoidal artery (PEA)-86%. The average distance from AEA–MEA is 8.1 ± 1.52 mm, MEA–PEA is 5.5 ± 1.29 mm and AEA–PEA is 12.9 ± 1.27 mm. The mean distance from PEA-the anterior wall of sphenoid is 7.7 ± 3.96 mm, and PEA-optic canal is 8.5 ± 3.1 mm with no statistical difference when compared between gender. AEA frequently presented with a long mesentery 57.4%, while 87.1% of PEA was hidden in a bony canal. The vertical distance of the AEA-skull base ranges from 0 to 12.5 mm whilst PEA-skull base is 0–4.7 mm. There is no statistical difference in distances of AEA, MEA nor PEA to skull base when analyzed between genders; t(82) = 1.663, p  > 0.05, t(32) = 0.403, p  > 0.05 and t(75) = 1.333, p  > 0.05 respectively. We newly discovered, that 50% of MEA is hidden in a bony canal, and its distance to skull base ranged 0–5.3 mm. MEA and PEA less commonly have a short or long mesentery. Knowledge on the ethmoidal arteries especially in our unstudied population of diverse ethnicity, gains to assist surgeons worldwide, when embarking in endoscopic transnasal surgeries.