Microsurgical Anatomy of the Cavernous Sinus

Abstract OBJECTIVE To evaluate the anatomic aspects of the diaphragma sellae and its potential role in directing the growth of a pituitary adenoma. METHODS Twenty cadaveric heads were dissected and measurements were taken at the level of the diaphragma sellae. RESULTS The diaphragma sellae is composed of two layers of dura mater. There is a remarkable variation in the morphology of the diaphragm opening. The average anteroposterior distance of the opening was 7.26 mm (range, 3.4–10.7 mm) and the average lateral-to-lateral distance was 7.33 mm (range, 2.8–14.1 mm). CONCLUSION The variability in the diameter of the opening of the diaphragma sellae could explain the growth of pituitary tumors toward the cavernous sinus or toward the suprasellar region.

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The Medial Wall of the Cavernous Sinus: Microsurgical Anatomy

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000126953.59406.77 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 179-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Alexandre Yasuda ◽

Alvaro Campero ◽

Carolina Martins ◽

Albert L. Rhoton ◽

Guilherme C. Ribas

Keyword(s):

Pituitary Gland ◽

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Thin Sheet ◽

Single Layer ◽

Lateral Wall ◽

The Body ◽

Medial Wall ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy ◽

Pituitary Fossa ◽

Adjacent Structures

Abstract OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to clarify the boundaries, relationships, and components of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus (CS). METHODS: Forty CSs, examined under ×3 to ×40 magnification, were dissected from lateral to medial in a stepwise fashion to expose the medial wall. Four CSs were dissected starting from the midline to lateral. RESULTS: The medial wall of the CS has two parts: sellar and sphenoidal. The sellar part is a thin sheet that separates the pituitary fossa from the venous spaces in the CS. This part, although thin, provided a barrier without perforations or defects in all cadaveric specimens studied. The sphenoidal part is formed by the dura lining the carotid sulcus on the body of the sphenoid bone. In all of the cadaveric specimens, the medial wall seemed to be formed by a single layer of dura that could not be separated easily into two layers as could the lateral wall. The intracavernous carotid was determined to be in direct contact with the pituitary gland, being separated from it by only the thin sellar part of the medial wall in 52.5% of cases. In 39 of 40 CSs, the venous plexus and spaces in the CS extended into the narrow space between the intracavernous carotid and the dura lining the carotid sulcus, which forms the sphenoidal part of the medial wall. The lateral surface of the pituitary gland was divided axially into superior, middle and inferior thirds. The intracavernous carotid coursed lateral to some part of all the superior, middle, and inferior thirds in 27.5% of the CSs, along the inferior and middle thirds in 32.5%, along only the inferior third in 35%, and below the level of the gland and sellar floor in 5%. In 18 of the 40 CSs, the pituitary gland displaced the sellar part of the medial wall laterally and rested against the intracavernous carotid, and in 6 there was a tongue-like lateral protrusion of the gland that extended around a portion of the wall of the intracavernous carotid. No defects were observed in the sellar part of the medial wall, even in the presence of these protrusions. CONCLUSION: The CS has an identifiable medial wall that separates the CS from the sella and capsule of the pituitary gland. The medial wall has two segments, sellar and sphenoidal, and is formed by just one layer of dura that cannot be separated into two layers as can the lateral wall of the CS. In this study, the relationships between the medial wall and adjacent structures demonstrated a marked variability.

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1.Microsurgical Anatomy of the Cavernous Sinus

Japanese Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.7887/jcns.8.284_1 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 284

Author(s):

Chun Siang Chen

Keyword(s):

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy

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MICROSURGICAL ANATOMY AND APPROACHES TO THE CAVERNOUS SINUS

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000333790.90972.59 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 62 (suppl_3) ◽

pp. ONS-4-ONS-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Alexandre Yasuda ◽

Alvaro Campero ◽

Carolina Martins ◽

Albert L. Rhoton ◽

Evandro de Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy

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The suboccipital cavernous sinus

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1997.86.2.0252 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 252-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 120

Author(s):

Kenan I. Arnautović ◽

Ossama Al-Mefty ◽

T. Glenn Pait ◽

Ali F. Krisht ◽

Muhammad M. Husain

Keyword(s):

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy ◽

Transverse Foramen ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Anatomical Structures ◽

Content Type ◽

Arterial Walls ◽

Pathological Conditions ◽

Fine Print

✓ The authors studied the microsurgical anatomy of the suboccipital region, concentrating on the third segment (V3) of the vertebral artery (VA), which extends from the transverse foramen of the axis to the dural penetration of the VA, paying particular attention to its loops, branches, supporting fibrous rings, adjacent nerves, and surrounding venous structures. Ten cadaver heads (20 sides) were fixed in formalin, their blood vessels were perfused with colored silicone rubber, and they were dissected under magnification. The authors subdivided the V3 into two parts, the horizontal (V3h) and the vertical (V3v), and studied the anatomical structures topographically, from the superficial to the deep tissues. In two additional specimens, serial histological sections were acquired through the V3 and its encircling elements to elucidate their cross-sectional anatomy. Measurements of surgically and clinically important features were obtained with the aid of an operating microscope. This study reveals an astonishing anatomical resemblance between the suboccipital complex and the cavernous sinus, as follows: venous cushioning; anatomical properties of the V3 and those of the petrous—cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA), namely their loops, branches, supporting fibrous rings, and periarterial autonomic neural plexus; adjacent nerves; and skull base locations. Likewise, a review of the literature showed a related embryological development and functional and pathological features, as well as similar transitional patterns in the arterial walls of the V3 and the petrous-cavernous ICA. Hence, due to its similarity to the cavernous sinus, this suboccipital complex is here named the “suboccipital cavernous sinus.” Its role in physiological and pathological conditions as they pertain to various clinical and surgical implications is also discussed.

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Taming the Cavernous Sinus: Technique of Hemostasis Using Fibrin Glue

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000289712.72555.9c ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 61 (suppl_3) ◽

pp. ONS-E52-ONS-E52 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Niklaus Krayenbühl ◽

Ahmad Hafez ◽

Juha A. Hernesniemi ◽

Ali F. Krisht

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Fibrin Glue ◽

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Cranial Base ◽

Sinus Surgery ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy ◽

Glue Injection

Abstract Objective: Improved understanding of the microsurgical anatomy of the cranial base region has made surgery in and through the cavernous sinus safer. However, continuous venous oozing that occurs during cavernous sinus surgery can cause significant blood loss and poor visualization. We describe a technique that will help minimize cavernous sinus bleeding and improve the safety of the surgical steps. Methods: The lateral wall of the cavernous sinus is exposed. Cavernous sinus access windows between the V1 and V2 branches of the trigeminal nerve and posterior to the clinoidal internal carotid artery are used to inject fibrin glue into the different cavernous sinus compartments. Postoperative follow-up cerebral angiography in basilar apex aneurysms clipped using the transcavernous approach were evaluated for cavernous sinus patency during the venous phase. Results: Fibrin glue injection between V1 and V2 obliterated the lateral cavernous sinus compartment. Fibrin glue injection posterior to the clinoidal segment of the internal carotid artery obliterated the medial compartment of the cavernous sinus. These steps were used in 217 surgical procedures (95 benign and 9 malignant neoplastic lesions; 113 aneurysms). There were no significant clinical side effects. Follow-up angiographic controls of basilar aneurysms operated on via the transcavernous approach consistently showed the reestablishment of flow within the cavernous sinus as early as 2 to 3 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Presently, the use of hemostatic agents and the better understanding of the microsurgical anatomy of the cranial base and cavernous sinus enable us to tame the cavernous sinus and operate in and around it with a high degree of safety.

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Microsurgical anatomy of the arterial compartment of the cavernous sinus: analysis of 24 cavernous sinus

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/s0004-282x2005000200012 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 63 (2a) ◽

pp. 259-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Gustavo Isolan ◽

Evandro de Oliveira ◽

João Paulo Mattos

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Internal Carotid Artery ◽

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Internal Carotid ◽

Sella Turcica ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy ◽

Isolated Artery ◽

Anatomy Knowledge ◽

Tentorial Artery ◽

Meningohypophyseal Trunk

The cavernous sinus is a complex compartment situated in both sides of the sella turcica, being its microsurgical anatomy knowledge of fundamental importance when consider to approach surgically. We studied the arterial microanatomy of 24 cavernous sinus at the microsurgical laboratory, considering that in all the internal carotid artery were filled with colored latex. The meningohypophyseal trunk was present in 18 cases (75%) with its origin in intracavernous portion of the internal carotid artery. In relation to the 18 presented cases with meningohypophyseal trunk, 14 (77.7%) had a trifurcate and 4 (23.3%) had a bifurcate pattern. The tentorial artery was present in all. Its origin was observed, arising from the meningohypophyseal trunk in 17 (70.8%) and as an isolated artery in some extension of the intracavernous portion in 7 (29.1%). An accessory tentorial artery was found in one specimen. The dorsal meningeal artery was present in 22 cases (91.6%). Its origin was in the meningohypophyseal trunk in 17 cases (77.2%), arising from internal carotid artery in 4 cases (18.1%) and from inferior hypophyseal artery in one case (4.1%).The inferior hypophyseal artery was present in all cases, having its origin at the meningohypophyseal trunk in 16 cases (66.6%). In the remaining 8 cases (33.3%) the artery was found arising alone from the intracavernous portion also. The artery of the inferior cavernous sinus or inferolateral trunk was present in all cases and had its origin from internal carotid artery in its intracavernous segment. The McConnell's artery was not found in any cavernous sinus.

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Medial Sphenoid Ridge Meningiomas: Classification, Microsurgical Anatomy, Operative Nuances, and Long-Term Surgical Outcome in 35 Consecutive Patients

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000317372.92393.e8 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. ONS38-ONS50 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Stephen M. Russell ◽

Vallo Benjamin

Keyword(s):

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Morbidity Rate ◽

Microsurgical Anatomy ◽

Simpson Grade ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Grade Ii ◽

Sphenoid Ridge

Abstract Objective: On the basis of contemporary multiplanar imaging, microsurgical observations, and long-term follow-up in 60 consecutive patients with sphenoid ridge meningiomas, we propose a modification to Cushing's classification of these tumors. This article will concentrate on patients from this series with global medial sphenoid ridge tumors. Methods: Data were collected prospectively for 35 patients with global meningiomas arising from the medial portion of the sphenoid ridge that were surgically treated between 1982 and 2002. Results: All patients were followed for the entire length of this study (mean, 12.8 yr). The tumor size ranged from 2 to 8 cm (mean, 4.5 cm). Of the 24 patients with purely intradural tumors, four (17%) had Simpson Grade I and 19 had Simpson Grade II resections; 23 (96%) had gross total resections. Of the 11 patients with tumors extending extradurally (i.e., cavernous sinus), one (9%) patient had a Simpson Grade II resection, whereas nine (82%) had Simpson Grade III resections, with the latter being all visible tumor removed except that in the cavernous sinus. One (9%) of these 11 patients had a gross total resection, and 9 (82%) had radical resections, with the latter defined as total removal of all intradural tumor. The overall morbidity rate was 18%. There was no surgical mortality or symptomatic cerebral infarction. Conclusion: An accurate classification of global medial sphenoid meningiomas is mandatory to gain insight into their clinical behavior and for understanding the long-term efficacy and safety of available treatment options. Primary medial sphenoid ridge tumors consistently involve the unilateral arteries of the anterior cerebral circulation, and therefore, the resection of tumor from around these arteries is the most important operative nuance for their safe excision.

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