RESEARCH ARTICLE Vascular Complications of Intercavernous Sinuses during Transsphenoidal Surgery: An Anatomical Analysis Based on Autopsy and Magnetic Resonance Venography

Purpose Vascular complications induced by intercavernous sinus injury during dural opening in the transsphenoidal surgery may contribute to incomplete tumour resections. Preoperative neuro-imaging is of crucial importance in planning surgical approach. The aim of this study is to correlate the microanatomy of intercavernous sinuses with its contrast-enhanced mag-netic resonance venography (CE-MRV). Methods Eighteen human adult cadavers and 24 patients were examined based on autopsy and CE-MRV. Through dissection of the cadavers and CE-MRV, the location, shape, number, diam-eter and type of intercavernous sinuses were measured and compared. Results Different intercavernous sinuses were identified by their location and shape in all the cadav-ers and CE-MRV. Compared to the cadavers, CE-MRV revealed 37 % of the anterior inter-cavernous sinus, 48 % of the inferior intercavernous sinus, 30 % of the posterior intercavernous sinus, 30 % of the dorsum sellae sinus and 100 % of the basilar sinus. The smaller intercavernous sinuses were not seen in the neuro-images. According to the pres-ence of the anterior and inferior intercavernous sinus, four types of the intercavernous sinuses were identified in cadavers and CE-MRV, and the corresponding operative space in the transsphenoidal surgical approach was implemented