Six Walls of the Cavernous Sinus Identified by Sectioned Images and Three-Dimensional Models: Anatomic Report.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: For the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases around the cavernous sinus (CS), radiologists should achieve complete mastery of the sectional anatomy of the CS, and neurosurgeons need to understand the stereoscopic orientation of the CS and circumjacent structures. However, despite the complicated structure of the CS, the current educational resources for its sectional and stereoscopic anatomy are insufficient. Another problem is that the definition of CS walls varies for each researcher. The purpose of this study is to redefine the walls of the CS and to provide related educational materials.

METHODS: Previous studies on the shape of the CS were analyzed. Sectioned images of a cadaver were prepared at 0.1-mm intervals to be made into three-dimensional (3D) models of the CS and neighboring structures.

RESULTS: Based on other studies, the shape of the CS was redefined as a hexahedron, consisting of 6 walls, and was illustrated as a schematic figure. Scientific exactitude of the hexahedron was proven through matching the points with the actual structures on the sectioned images and 3D models that were made in this study.

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the hexahedron theory, the sectioned images, and the 3D models in this study will enhance the efficiency of studying CS anatomy. The educational resources of this study can be obtained free of charge by medical students, radiologists, and neurosurgeons requiring knowledge of CS anatomy.