Excessive pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus: A case report

Anatomical variants of sphenoid sinuses pneumatisation: a CT scan study on a Northern Italian population

“…Iperpneumatisation is known in the literature, with extension into other structures close to the sphenoid body and other bones, with possible inclusion of internal carotid artery, maxillary, vidian and optic nerves [ 14 ]. Variants in pneumatisation of sphenoid bones are symptomless although literature reports a case of swelling in temporal region and slight degree of axial proptosis of the left eye in a subject with high-degree pneumatised sphenoid sinuses [ 22 ].…”

“…Finally, epidemiological data of pneumatisation variants in healthy population are fundamental for next studies concerning their possible role in pathological condition, such as chronic sinusitis: most of the literature in fact highlights that variant forms of pneumatisation are usually asymptomatic and cases of clinically evident symptoms are very rare [ 22 ]. The few data concerning this issue derive from Kazkayasi et al who analysed the probability of finding aberrant pneumatisation in patients treated for chronic or recurrent sinusitis: prevalence of pneumatisation of pterygoid processes and anterior clinoid processes was, respectively, 39.7 and 17.2%, similarly to the present results [ 31 ].…”

Compressive Optic Nerve Lesions at the Optic Canal

“…Rarely, there is associated paresis of an oculomotor, abducent, trigeminal or vestibulocochlear nerve (Selz 1970). Pneumosinus dilatans of the ethmoid air cells or sphenoid bone has been described, for instance, by Agati and Bertolotti (1946), Agati (1946), Montresor (1954), Petereit (1975), Morton (1983), and others, but is less frequent than hyperpneumatizations of the frontal and maxillary sinus (Morrison et al 1976;Vine et al 1976;Meyers and Burtschi 1980, and others). Bone erosion, usually in the area of the roof of the sphenoid sinus and around the optic canal, has been observed (Sugita et al 1977;Kaufmann et al 1977;Reicher et al 1986) and may cause, apart from optic nerve compression, cerebral spinal fluid fistulas that occur spontaneously or after surgery of lesions in the ethmoid or sphenoid sinuses (Fig.…”

“…This resulted in the well-established diseases entity being represented in neuroradiological text books (Psenner 1963;Beutel and Tanzer 1963;Lombardi 1967;Lloyd 1975, and others). Then it was forgotten again, only to be partially rediscovered in the late 1970s and early 1980s (Leonardi 1976;Vine et al 1976;Morrison et al 1976;Kaufmann et al 1977;Prott 1977;Hirst et al 1979;Meyers and Burtschi 1980;Spoor et al 1981;Hirst et al 1982;Zoon et al 1983;Morton et al 1983;Morton 1983;Unsold 1983;Hassler and Eggert 1985;Reicher et al 1986).…”

Skull base: pseudolesion or true lesion?

“…Pneumatization of the clinoid or pterygoid processes by the paranasal sinuses, most commonly from the sphenoid sinuses and rarely from the ethmoid air cells, is a wellrecognized process occurring in approximately 10% of patients [2,3]. Typically, it is of no clinical significance; however, it may be mistaken for an orbital apex, cavernous sinus or suprasellar cistern lesion if asymmetric pneumatization occurs.…”