Enhanced Exposure of Carotico-Oculomotor Triangle Following Extradural Anterior Clinoidectomy: A Comparative Anatomical Study

Burak Sade; Chang Y. Kweon; James J. Evans; Joung H. Lee

doi:10.1055/s-2005-871523

Skull Base, Table of Contents

Skull Base 2005; 15(3): 157-161
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871523

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Enhanced Exposure of Carotico-Oculomotor Triangle Following Extradural Anterior Clinoidectomy: A Comparative Anatomical Study

Burak Sade¹ ^, ² , Chang Y. Kweon³ , James J. Evans¹ ^, ² , Joung H. Lee¹ ^, ²

¹Brain Tumor Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
²Department of Neurosurgery, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
³Department of Neurosurgery, Presbyterian Medical Center, Chunju, South Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: To quantify and compare the carotico-oculomotor triangle (COT) area before and after extradural anterior clinoidectomy (AC). Methods: Ten cadaveric heads were dissected bilaterally. Before and after an extradural AC, the following points were measured: (1) the internal carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation to the tip of the anterior clinoid process (ACP) (A) and to the distal dural ring (A′), (2) the ICA bifurcation to the point where the oculomotor nerve becomes obscured by the tentorial fold (B) and to the porus oculomotoris after incision of the tentorial fold (B′), and (3) the tip of the ACP to the point where the oculomotor nerve becomes obscured by the tentorial incisura (C) and from the distal dural ring to the porus oculomotoris (C′). The area of the COT was calculated before and after AC (ΔABC and ΔA′B′C′, respectively). Results: The mean values were as follows: A: 9.15 ± 0.93 mm, A′: 13.45 ± 0.82 mm; B: 7.80 ± 1.24 mm, B′: 9.90 ± 1.21 mm; C: 7.15 ± 0.99 mm, C′: 9.3 ± 1.26 mm; ΔABC: 26.26 ± 6.05 mm², ΔA′B′C′: 45.06 ± 8.92 mm². Conclusions: Extradural AC enhances the exposure of the COT almost twofold. This increased exposure can be of significant help during resection of lesions of the parasellar and basilar apex regions.

KEYWORDS

Anterior clinoid - carotico-oculomotor triangle - clinoidectomy - extradural

Full Text

References

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Joung H LeeM.D.

Brain Tumor Institute, Department of Neurosurgery

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Desk R-20, 9500 Euclid Ave.

Cleveland, OH 44195

Email: leej@cc.ccf.org