open access

Vol 82, No 1 (2023)
Case report
Submitted: 2021-12-30
Accepted: 2022-01-09
Published online: 2022-01-21
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Concomitant completely ossified trigeminal pore and Dorello’s canal

M. C. Rusu1, A. D. Vrapciu1, P. M. Rădoi2, C. Toader2
·
Pubmed: 35099042
·
Folia Morphol 2023;82(1):187-189.
Affiliations
  1. Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  2. Faculty of General Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

open access

Vol 82, No 1 (2023)
CASE REPORTS
Submitted: 2021-12-30
Accepted: 2022-01-09
Published online: 2022-01-21

Abstract

Commonly, the trigeminal and abducens nerve course to the middle cranial fossa, beneath the tentorial border (posterior petroclinoid dural ligament) and, respectively, beneath Grüber’s petrosphenoidal ligament, in Dorello’s canal. It is hereby reported a rare unilateral association of anatomic variants which was found when the brain computed tomography angiography of a 56-year-old male patient was observed. On the left side, the tentorial border was ossified above the petrous apex, resulting in a tentorial bar 1.96 cm long that transformed the trigeminal pore into a completely ossified one. On that side was also found an ossified petrosphenoidal ligament determining a completely ossified Dorello’s canal. On the opposite side a 2.9 mm long clinoid bar extended from the posterior clinoid process to the anterior one. Although these bars are not common in humans they should be documented in computed tomography in cases with associated trigeminal neuralgia and abducens nerve palsy.

Abstract

Commonly, the trigeminal and abducens nerve course to the middle cranial fossa, beneath the tentorial border (posterior petroclinoid dural ligament) and, respectively, beneath Grüber’s petrosphenoidal ligament, in Dorello’s canal. It is hereby reported a rare unilateral association of anatomic variants which was found when the brain computed tomography angiography of a 56-year-old male patient was observed. On the left side, the tentorial border was ossified above the petrous apex, resulting in a tentorial bar 1.96 cm long that transformed the trigeminal pore into a completely ossified one. On that side was also found an ossified petrosphenoidal ligament determining a completely ossified Dorello’s canal. On the opposite side a 2.9 mm long clinoid bar extended from the posterior clinoid process to the anterior one. Although these bars are not common in humans they should be documented in computed tomography in cases with associated trigeminal neuralgia and abducens nerve palsy.

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Keywords

trigeminal nerve, abducens nerve, trigeminal neuralgia, petrous apex

About this article
Title

Concomitant completely ossified trigeminal pore and Dorello’s canal

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 82, No 1 (2023)

Article type

Case report

Pages

187-189

Published online

2022-01-21

Page views

3535

Article views/downloads

1505

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2022.0007

Pubmed

35099042

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2023;82(1):187-189.

Keywords

trigeminal nerve
abducens nerve
trigeminal neuralgia
petrous apex

Authors

M. C. Rusu
A. D. Vrapciu
P. M. Rădoi
C. Toader

References (8)
  1. Bergman RA, Afifi Ak, Miyauchi R. Illustrated encyclopedia of human anatomic variation: Opus v: Skeletal systems: Cranium. 1995. 2021. https://www.anatomyatlases.org/AnatomicVariants/SkeletalSystem/Regions/Cranium.shtml.
  2. Kimball D, Kimball H, Matusz P, et al. Ossification of the posterior petroclinoid dural fold: a cadaveric study with neurosurgical significance. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2015; 76(4): 272–277.
  3. Özgür A, Esen K. Ossification of the petrosphenoidal ligament: multidetector computed tomography findings of an unusual variation with a potential role in abducens nerve palsy. Jpn J Radiol. 2015; 33(5): 260–265.
  4. Rădoi PM, Rusu MC, Dincă D, et al. Combined rare anatomic variants: persistent primitive olfactory artery and azygos pericallosal artery. Surg Radiol Anat. 2021; 43(8): 1305–1308.
  5. Rusu MC, Ivaşcu RV, Cergan R, et al. Typical and atypical neurovascular relations of the trigeminal nerve in the cerebellopontine angle: an anatomical study. Surg Radiol Anat. 2009; 31(7): 507–516.
  6. Touska P, Hasso S, Oztek A, et al. Skull base ligamentous mineralisation: evaluation using computed tomography and a review of the clinical relevance. Insights Imaging. 2019; 10(1): 55.
  7. Tubbs RS, Salter EG, Oakes WJ. Bony anomaly of Meckel's cave. Clin Anat. 2006; 19(1): 75–77.
  8. Tubbs RS, Sharma A, Loukas M, et al. Ossification of the petrosphenoidal ligament: unusual variation with the potential for abducens nerve entrapment in Dorello's canal at the skull base. Surg Radiol Anat. 2014; 36(3): 303–305.

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