open access

Vol 82, No 3 (2023)
Original article
Submitted: 2022-04-10
Accepted: 2022-05-09
Published online: 2022-05-20
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Anatomical identification of supraseptal posterior ethmoid cells and its significance for endoscopic sinus surgery

J. Liu1, Y. Wang1, Z. Yan2, Y. Yang3
·
Pubmed: 35607871
·
Folia Morphol 2023;82(3):696-703.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China
  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Beijing Hospital, National Centre of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China

open access

Vol 82, No 3 (2023)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2022-04-10
Accepted: 2022-05-09
Published online: 2022-05-20

Abstract

Background: To investigate the anatomical imaging characteristics of supraseptal
posterior ethmoid cells (SPEC).
Materials and methods: Paranasal sinus computed tomography scans of 153
inpatients from February 2019 to September 2021 were reviewed, and the anatomical
characteristics of SPEC in the scans were collected.
Results: Supraseptal posterior ethmoid cells are posterior ethmoid (PE) cells
extending medially and superiorly to the posterior superior of the nasal septum
and into the sphenoid body but not close to the optic canal. The SPEC, Onodi
cell, and sphenoidal sinus (SS) may appear in the posterior superior of the nasal
septum, but the occurrence rate of the SPEC (5.88%; 9/153 cases) was significantly
lower than that of the SS (22.88%) and Onodi cell (21.57%). The anterior SPEC
is adjacent to the cribriform plate, the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone
and the posterior ethmoidal artery (PEA). The posterior SPEC is adjacent to the
SS and PE (6/9 cases), the SS and Onodi cell (2/9 cases) or the PE only (1/9 cases).
Conclusions: The SPEC is a rare pneumatization that occurs in the posterior superior
area of the nasal septum. Care should be taken to protect the skull base,
cribriform plate and PEA when opening the SPEC during endoscopic sinus surgery.

Abstract

Background: To investigate the anatomical imaging characteristics of supraseptal
posterior ethmoid cells (SPEC).
Materials and methods: Paranasal sinus computed tomography scans of 153
inpatients from February 2019 to September 2021 were reviewed, and the anatomical
characteristics of SPEC in the scans were collected.
Results: Supraseptal posterior ethmoid cells are posterior ethmoid (PE) cells
extending medially and superiorly to the posterior superior of the nasal septum
and into the sphenoid body but not close to the optic canal. The SPEC, Onodi
cell, and sphenoidal sinus (SS) may appear in the posterior superior of the nasal
septum, but the occurrence rate of the SPEC (5.88%; 9/153 cases) was significantly
lower than that of the SS (22.88%) and Onodi cell (21.57%). The anterior SPEC
is adjacent to the cribriform plate, the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone
and the posterior ethmoidal artery (PEA). The posterior SPEC is adjacent to the
SS and PE (6/9 cases), the SS and Onodi cell (2/9 cases) or the PE only (1/9 cases).
Conclusions: The SPEC is a rare pneumatization that occurs in the posterior superior
area of the nasal septum. Care should be taken to protect the skull base,
cribriform plate and PEA when opening the SPEC during endoscopic sinus surgery.

Get Citation

Keywords

ethmoid sinus, posterior ethmoid cell, sphenoid sinus, anatomic variation, endoscopic sinus surgery, tomography, X-ray computed

About this article
Title

Anatomical identification of supraseptal posterior ethmoid cells and its significance for endoscopic sinus surgery

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 82, No 3 (2023)

Article type

Original article

Pages

696-703

Published online

2022-05-20

Page views

1207

Article views/downloads

792

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2022.0051

Pubmed

35607871

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2023;82(3):696-703.

Keywords

ethmoid sinus
posterior ethmoid cell
sphenoid sinus
anatomic variation
endoscopic sinus surgery
tomography
X-ray computed

Authors

J. Liu
Y. Wang
Z. Yan
Y. Yang

References (18)
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