Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies reported that sphenoid sinus pneumatization (SSP) affects paraclinoid structures, including the optic canal (OC), the anterior clinoid process (ACP), the optic strut (OS), and the sella turcica (ST). We aimed to analyze this assesment based on sagittal and coronal SSP (SSSP and CSSP) patterns considering gender, laterality, and age. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) images of 154 patients (78 males and 76 females), the dimensions of ST, OC, and ACP were measured, and caroticoclinoid foramen (CCF) and OC protrusion (OCP) were detected, as well as the prevalence of SSSP, CSSP, and ACP pneumatization (ACPP). RESULTS: The prevalence of ACPP and OCP significantly increased with the degree of SSSP and CSSP. The ACPP was found to be linked to the OCP and sulcal/postsulcal OS (p < 0.05). Also, CCF types were more common in sellar and postsellar SSSP (p = 0.041). The ST and OC dimensions were found to be influenced negatively by an increased degree of SSSP. As the degree of ACPP increased, the OC diameters and ST height decreased, while the OC and ACP lengths increased. The probability of having postsellar SSSP (p = 0.029), postrotundum CSSP (p = 0.000), and ACPP (p = 0.036) decreased with ageing. We found that the OC diameters and ST dimensions increased, while the lengths of the OC and ACP decreased with age. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that morphology and dimensions of paraclinoid structures can be predicted based on SSSP and CSSP in relation to gender and age. This is essential for improved treatment planning and avoidance of iatrogenic injury during surgery.