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DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1312312
The Relationship between the Superior Petrosal Sinus and Meckel's Cave: An Anatomical Study
Introduction: Vascular relationships during intracranial approaches to the skull base are very important. One relationship that has had scant attention in the literature is that between the superior petrosal sinus and the opening of Meckel's cave.
Materials and Methods: Cadaver dissections were performed in 25 adult latex-injected cadaveric heads. Specifically, the relationship between the superior petrosal sinus and the opening of Meckel's cave was observed.
Results: Of 50 sides, 68%, 18%, and 16% of superior petrosal sinuses traveled superior to, inferior to and around the opening to Meckel's cave, respectively. In the latter case, a venous ring was formed around the proximal trigeminal nerve. No sinus entered Meckel's cave. In general, the porus trigeminus was narrowed on sides found to have a superior petrosal sinus that encircled this region. Sinuses that traveled only inferior to the porus were, in general, larger than sinuses that traveled superior or encircled this opening. No statistically significant differences were noted between the various sinus relationships and gender, age, or side.
Conclusions: Knowledge of the relationship between the superior petrosal sinus and the opening of Meckel's cave will be useful to the skull base surgeon. Additionally, future clinical studies may wish to discern such relationships in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.