Exposure of the Petrous Segment of the Internal Carotid Artery Through the Extradural Subtemporal Middle Cranial Fossa Approach: A Systematic Anatomical Study

Pietro Mortini; Carlo Mandelli; Simonetta Gerevini; Massimo Giovanelli

doi:10.1055/s-2001-16606

Skull Base, Table of Contents

Skull Base 2001; 11(3): 177-188
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-16606

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Exposure of the Petrous Segment of the Internal Carotid Artery Through the Extradural Subtemporal Middle Cranial Fossa Approach: A Systematic Anatomical Study

Pietro Mortini¹ , Carlo Mandelli¹ , Simonetta Gerevini² , Massimo Giovanelli¹

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
²Department of Neuroradiology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The relationships between the horizontal segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and other petrous apex structures was studied in 14 anatomical specimens obtained from routine autopsies and on 10 magnetic resonance images obtained from healthy volunteers. The dissection was performed under an operating microscope using the middle fossa transpetrous approach. A pentagon-shaped area of 67.91 mm;s2 posterior to the trigeminal nerve and bordered by anatomical structures was identified inside the petrous apex. The results suggest a method for exposing the ICA when the artery is not visible after dural elevation.

KEYWORD

Carotid artery - skull base - transpetrous approach - temporal bone anatomy

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References

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