[Radiological anatomy of the ethmoidal arteries: CT cadaver study].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to study the radiological anatomy of the ethmoidal arteries.

METHODS: A descriptive study was performed including CT images of 20 cadaver heads. The specimens were perfused with a radiopaque material and various anatomical parameters were analysed.

RESULTS: The anterior ethmoidal artery was found in 95% (38/40) of cases. It originated from the ophthalmic artery in 87.5% (34/40) of nasal cavities. In six cases, normal variants were found. The mean length of the anterior ethmoidal canal was 8.43 ± 0.74 mm. The angle performed into the skull base was 37.3 ± 5.48°. In 90% of cases (36/40), it was located between the second and third lamella. The posterior ethmoidal artery was localised only in 14/40 cases, with 28.5% (4/14) of them showing normal variants. The mean length of the posterior ethmoidal canal was 7.1 ± 1.02 mm. The angle performed into the skull base was 7.11 ± 4.07°. The distance from sill to the anterior ethmoid artery was 55.51 ± 5.52 mm. The angle between the nasal spine and the anterior ethmoidal canal was 57.67 ± 1.68°. The distance between the nasion and the anterior ethmoidal canal was 29.31 ± 2.53 mm, the distance was 11.24 ± 2.14 mm from the anterior ethmoid artery to the posterior ethmoid artery and from the posterior ethmoid artery to the optic nerve, 7.26 ± 1.33 mm. Supraorbital cells were observed in 15% (6/40) of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS: A complete vascular study of the ethmoidal arteries was possible by using this technique.