Surgical anatomy of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

The knowledge acquired by the following method can be useful not only comparison with computerized tomographs which are frequently used in otorhinolaryngology, but also will make a highly effective contribution to surgical anatomy and the prevention of complications in surgery of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The sphenoid sinus and the adjacent tissues were studied on specimens removed en bloc from 12 cadavers. Horizontal sections were made and were macroscopically and microscopically observed for surgical and anatomical studies. The optic nerve was frequently in contact with the lateral wall of the paranasal sinus which was paper-thin in sinuses with marked pneumatization. In some sinuses with marked pneumatization, the course of the internal carotid artery was in contact with the posterior wall of the sphenoid sinus. The clinical anatomy should be kept in mind to avoid complications during operative procedures. Knowledge of clinical anatomy is also useful in understanding the images of CT scanning of the paranasal sinuses.