Presence and types of anterior clinoid process pneumatization, evaluated by Multidetector Computerized Tomography Abstract Purpose: The types and ratio of anterior clinoid process (ACP) pneumatization in paranasal sinus Multidetector Computerized Tomography (MDCT) were investigated the importance of ACP in neurosurgical approaches discussed.Methods: Paranasal MDCT images of 499 subjects (259 male, 240 female), between 17 and 65 years of age, were included in the study. Presence and types of pneumatization of the ACP and pneumatization types (I, II or III) were evaluated.Results: ACP pneumatization was detected in 37.5% of the males and 33.3% of the females. Right, left and bilateral ACP pneumatizations were detected in 12.7%, 9.3% and 15.4% of males and 9.2%, 8.3% and 15.8% of the females, respectively. The most commonly detected types of pneumatization were Type I (49.1%) for right pneumatizations and Type II pneumatization for left (40.9%) and bilateral (37.2%) pneumatizations. In males, Type I (37.1%) and in females, Type II (40.0%) pneumatizations were detected more frequently. Type III pneumatization was detected in 29.9% of the males and 22.5% of the females. ACP pneumatization ratios were higher in younger subjects and lower in older subjects.
Conclusion:Sclerosis process related to aging may be responsible for the lower pneumatization ratios in older subjects. When Type III ACP pneumatization is present, clinoidectomy should not be performed: in this type of ACP pneumatization, cerebrospinal fluid fistula develops in all cases. Certain parts of the sphenoid bone are connected by ligaments, including the pterygospinous (between the spine and the upper part of the lateral pterygoid plate), the interclinoid (joining the anterior and posterior clinoid process) and the caroticoclinoid (connecting the anterior and middle clinoid process), and these ligaments occasionally ossify [1].The anterior clinoid process (ACP) is a posterior and medial continuation of the lesser sphenoid wing [2][3][4][5] and is connected to the body of the sphenoid bone (basisphenoid bone) by superior and inferior roots [4,5]. The superior root is flat, forms the roof of the optic canal, and continues as the planum sphenoidale. The inferior root (optic strut) forms the lateral and ventral walls of the optic canal and connects the lesser sphenoid wing with the basisphenoid bone [1].Pneumatization of the ACP involves extending a paranasal sinus, such as the sphenoid or ethmoid sinus, into the ACP through the optic strut (OS) or anterior root (AR). Tearing these paranasal sinuses can cause pneumocephalus or liquorrhea [6][7][8][9][10]. In this study, we investigated the types and ratio of ACP pneumatization and discussed the importance of it to neurosurgical approaches.
Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted in December 2015 in Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Computerized Tomography (CT) images were obtained from the archives of Kirikkale University F...