High Resolution CT Anatomical Study Of Pterygopalatine Fossa

Objective To study the normal structures of pterygopalatine fossa(PPF) and itscommunications on high resolution CT(HRCT) and multiplanar reconstruction(MPR)images，for provide image anatomical data for clinical diagnosis and surgical plan．Methods Images were performed in100patients who see doctor in the department ofotorhinolaryngology head and neck surgerg，the first affiliated hospital of Anhuimedical university between December2011to December2012，for paranasal sinusitiswithout abnormality in PPF communications．All original images were transferred toworkstation for image processing， through a multi-angle different directionsreconstruction of the MPR to show PPF and with the surrounding parts of the anatomyof three-dimensional relation．Results The configuration of PPF was various in different planes and dimensions，andsurrounding structeres were complexed；The walls of PPF were various in diferrentplanes；Communications of PPF were best showed in HRCT and MPR images；By MPRcan clearly display PPF on axial plane are mainly narrow belt，triangle，square，oval，while on coronal plane it usually appeared as a quadrangular apace，and on sagittalplane a funnel-shaped shadow，also can clearly display PPF through eight channelsrelationship with seven anatomical are interlinked，respectively is the infraorbital orbitalfissure and the same；the sphenopalafine hole with the same nasal cavity；cracked thewing upper temporal fossa with the same company of the hole and even the samecranial fossa；willg of the lateral skull base and even the same；Palate sheath andnasopharyngeal even the same；Daguan the palate and small palate of the same evenwith the mouth．On coronal plane，foramen rotundum demonstrated as a ring-like shadow，it next to sphenoidal sinus accounted for96%(192/200)，penetrate sphenoidalsinus accounted for4%(8/200)．The pterygoid canal was circular or oval shape，thepterygoid canal beneath totally-separated sphenoidal sinus was seen in67%(134/200) ofcase，while within the sphenoidal sinus in33%(66/200)，lack of superior roof of thecanal was only seen in3%(6/200)．Sphenopalatine foramen completely above themiddle turbinate back-end accounted for75%(150/200)，divided in two by the middleturbinate back-end accounted for25%(50/200)，no sphenopalatine foramen completelyunder middle turbinate back-end．Conclusion HRCT transverse plane combined with MPR coronal and sagittal imagescould intuitive，stereo and clearly demonstrate the configuration of PPF and itscommunications．It is important to improve the ability of clinical diagnosis and surgicalplan．...