Computed tomography-based assessment of sphenoid sinus and sella turcica pneumatization analysis: a retrospective study

PeerJ. 2023 Dec 18:11:e16623. doi: 10.7717/peerj.16623. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: A preoperative three-dimensional examination of the sphenoid sinus anatomy, its pneumatization pattern, and its relevance to neighboring neurovascular constructions is crucial to preventing possible complications. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the relationship between sphenoid sinus pneumatization types and the sella turcica using computed tomography (CT).

Methods: CT data from 420 patients referred to the Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology were evaluated retrospectively. Sella pneumatization types were classified as conchal, presellar, incomplete sellar, and complete sellar, and they were evaluated. Obtained data were evaluated using the IBM SPSS 25.0 (Armonk, New York, USA) package program.

Results: CT images of 420 individuals, including 174 women and 246 men with a mean age of 43.87 ± 17.58 years, were included in the study. When the sella turcica morphologies were evaluated, the most widespread morphological type was irregularity in the posterior part of the dorsum sella, in 51.2% of cases. In addition, a statistically significant correlation was found between the pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus and the morphological types of sella (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: In this research endeavor, the predominant observation comprised the complete sellar sphenoid sinus pneumatization type, exhibiting irregularity in the posterior aspect of the dorsum sella, representing one of the sellar types. Notwithstanding, it is imperative to conduct additional investigations to establish the generalizability of the present study's findings.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Pneumatization; Sella turcica; Sphenoid sinus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sella Turcica* / diagnostic imaging
  • Sphenoid Sinus* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Grants and funding

The authors received no funding for this work.