Objective: The aim of the study was to assess different radiologic
bony landmarks for endoscopic localization of the sphenopalatine
foramen (SPF).
Methods: Paranasal computed tomography (CT) scans of adults
without sinonasal pathology were included. On axial cuts, the
anteroposterior distances from the SPF to maxillary line, anterior
head of the middle turbinate, basal lamella of the middle turbinate,
choanal arch, and posterior fontanel of the maxillary sinus ostium
were measured. While on coronal cuts, the vertical distances from
the SPF to the nasal floor was measured. The registered
measurements were then studied and statistically analyzed.
Results: In 70 patients (140 sides, 840 measurements), the mean
distances from the SPF to nasal floor, choanal arch, maxillary
line, anterior head of the middle turbinate, basal lamella,
and posterior fontanel were 25.62.4, 8.51.38, 36.42.6,
34.64.26, 8.11.27, and 13.71.7 mm, respectively,
without significant differences between right and left sides.
Females showed significantly shorter mean distances between
SPF and the nasal floor (P¼0.0011), choanal arch (P¼0.0459),
and posterior fontanel (P |
