Anatomical Study Quantifying the Relationship between the Arcuate Eminence and the Root of the Zygoma: Application to Skull Base Surgery

Objective: The aim of this study was to define the structural relationship between the arcuate eminence (AE) and a known fixed external landmark, the root of the zygoma (ZR), and to determine its reliability as a consistent landmark for guiding surgical approaches. To our knowledge, this is the only anatomical study to quantify the relationship between the AE and the ZR.

Method: The distance from the posterior aspect of the ZR to the midpoint of the AE was measured. Thirteen dry temporal bones and four dry skull specimens were used. The four dry skulls were measured bilaterally using digital calipers (Mitutoyo Kanagawa, Japan), so in total there were 21 temporal bone measurements. Student's t-test was used to compare the left and right sides.

Result: An AE was found in every specimen. The average ZR to AE distance was 30.89 mm (range: 28.16–33.30 mm). No significant differences were found between sides. No anatomical variations or pathological conditions were noted in any of the specimens.

Conclusion: The ZR is an easily identifiable and consistent bony landmark often used by skull base surgeons. In this investigation, we established a reliable and accurate anatomical relationship between the ZR and AE. This relationship could assist in planning surgical trajectories and minimizing complications when skull base pathologies are approached.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 February 2021