ENDOSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE SPHENOID SINUS AND SELLA TURCICA

An endoscopic study of the sphenoid sinus was carried out, on 30 cadavers, to understand the important anatomical relationships of the sphenoid sinus, and the sella turcica. The aim was to study the endoscopic anatomy and the variants, and to determine if endoscopic instrumentation and techniques, could play a beneficial role in endoscopic management of sellar lesions. The results of this study are discussed, with particular reference to the important surgical anatomical features of the sphenoid sinus. A surgical technique for the endoscopic transsphenoid approach to the sella turcica was developed. Anatomical variants can be identified endoscopically, and endoscopic techniques have the advantages of improved visualization, magnification, angled vision, and a panoramic perspective of the intrasphenoid anatomy, compared to currently employed methods of pituitary/sellar surgery, using the operating microscope.