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The anatomy of the carotico-clinoid foramen and its relation with the internal carotid artery

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Abstract

The carotico-clinoid foramen is the result of ossification either of the carotico-clinoid ligament or of a dural fold extending between the anterior and middle clinoid processes of the sphenoid bone. It is anatomically important due to its relations with the cavernous sinus and its content, sphenoid sinus and pituitary gland. In this study the ossification state of the carotico-clinoid ligament, the diameter of the internal carotid artery and the carotico-clinoid foramen has been studied on 50 autopsy cases. Of the 100 carotico-clinoid foramina examined, in 27 sides (15 right, 12 left) the carotico-clinoid ligament was completely ossified, in 18 sides (9 right, 9 left) the carotico-clinoid ligament was incompletely ossified and in 55 sides (26 right, 29 left) it was a ligamentous structure. The correlation of the dimensions of the carotico-clinoid foramen and the internal carotid artery showed no statistical significance, except between the carotico-clinoid foramen with a fibrous carotico-clinoid ligament and the internal carotid artery on the right side (p=0.007, r=0.51). The existence of a bony carotico-clinoid foramen may cause compression, tightening or stretching of the internal carotid artery. Further, removing the anterior clinoid process is an important step in regional surgery; the presence of a bony carotico-clinoid foramen may have high risk. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the type of ossification between the anterior and middle clinoid processes can be necessary to increase the success of regional surgery.

Résumé

Le foramen carotico-clinoïdien est le résultat de l'ossification du ligament carotico-clinoïdien ou d'un repli dural tendu entre les processus clinoïdes antérieur et moyen de l'os sphénoïde. Il est important sur le plan anatomique en raison de ses rapports avec le sinus caverneux et son contenu, le sinus sphénoïdal et la glande pituitaire. Dans cette étude, l'état d'ossification du ligament carotico-clinoïdien, le diamètre de l'artère carotide interne et le foramen carotico-clinoïdien ont été étudiés sur 50 cas d'autopsies. Sur les 100 foramens carotico-clinoïdiens examinés, su 27 côtés (15 droits, 12 gauches), le ligament carotico-clinoïdien était complètement ossifié; sur 18 côtés (9 droits, 9 gauches), le ligament carotico-clinoïdien était incomplètement ossifié et sur 55 côtés (26 droits, 29 gauches), il était purement ligamentaire. L'étude des corrélations entre les dimensions du foramen carotico-clinoïdien et de l'artère carotide interne ne montrait pas de relation statistiquement significative en dehors de celle unissant le foramen carotico-clinoïdien avec ligament carotico-clinoïdien fibreux et l'artère carotide interne du côté droit (p=0,07, r=0.51). L'existence d'un foramen carotico-clinoïdien osseux peut entraîner la compression, l'élongation ou l'étirement de l'artère carotide interne. De plus, l'ablation du processus clinoïde antérieur est une étape importante dans la chirurgie de la région, la présence d'un foramen carotico-clinoïdien osseux peut en augmenter les risques. C'est pourquoi une connaissance détaillée du type d'ossification entre les processus clinoïdes antérieur et moyen était nécessaire pour améliorer le succès dans la chirurgie dans la région.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Marmara University School of Medicine, Haydarpaşa, 81326, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ö. Özdoğmuş, E. Saka, C. Tulay, E. Gürdal & S. Çavdar

  2. Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    İ. Üzün

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  1. Ö. Özdoğmuş
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  2. E. Saka
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  3. C. Tulay
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  4. E. Gürdal
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  5. İ. Üzün
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  6. S. Çavdar
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Correspondence to Ö. Özdoğmuş.

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Özdoğmuş, Ö., Saka, E., Tulay, C. et al. The anatomy of the carotico-clinoid foramen and its relation with the internal carotid artery. Surg Radiol Anat 25, 241–246 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-003-0111-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-003-0111-4

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