Daniele Gibelli1, Michaela Cellina2, Stefano Gibelli3, Annalisa Cappella4, Marta Maria Panzeri5, Antonio Giancarlo Oliva2, Giovanni Termine3, Claudia Dolci4, Chiarella Sforza4. 1. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, V. Mangiagalli 31, Milan, Italy. daniele.gibelli@unimi.it. 2. Reparto di Radiologia, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy. 3. Reparto di Otorinolaringoiatria, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy. 4. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, V. Mangiagalli 31, Milan, Italy. 5. Reparto di Radiologia Diagnostica, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The pterygopalatine fossa is an important anatomical structure for several surgical and anaesthesiologic procedures; yet, very few data are available about its size. This study aims at providing a metrical assessment of pterygopalatine fossa through an innovative 3D segmentation procedure on head CT-scans. METHODS: CT-scans from 100 patients (50 males and 50 females) aged between 18 and 85 years were chosen for the study. Right and left pterygopalatine fossae were segmented through ITK-SNAP open source software. Height and volume were calculated on the acquired 3D models. In addition, anterior-posterior nasal spine distance, upper facial height (nasion-prosthion) and biorbital breadth (ectoconchion-ectoconchion) were measured as well. Statistically significant differences of height and volume according to sex and side were assessed through two-way ANOVA test: sexually dimorphic measurements were further assessed through one-way ANCOVA test using the three cranial measurements as covariates (p < 0.05). RESULTS: On average pterygopalatine fossa height was 24.1 ± 3.5 mm in males, and 22.8 ± 3.4 mm in females, whereas volume was 0.930 ± 0.181 cm3 in males and 0.817 ± 0.157 cm3 in females, with statistically significant differences according to sex (p < 0.05), but not to side (p > 0.05); interaction was negligible for both the measurements. ANCOVA test verified that sexual dimorphism of both measurements is independent from general cranial size (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlighted the sexual dimorphism of pterygopalatine fossa: results may improve the knowledge of this anatomical structure difficult to explore, but crucial in several fields of clinics and surgery.
PURPOSE: The pterygopalatine fossa is an important anatomical structure for several surgical and anaesthesiologic procedures; yet, very few data are available about its size. This study aims at providing a metrical assessment of pterygopalatine fossa through an innovative 3D segmentation procedure on head CT-scans. METHODS: CT-scans from 100 patients (50 males and 50 females) aged between 18 and 85 years were chosen for the study. Right and left pterygopalatine fossae were segmented through ITK-SNAP open source software. Height and volume were calculated on the acquired 3D models. In addition, anterior-posterior nasal spine distance, upper facial height (nasion-prosthion) and biorbital breadth (ectoconchion-ectoconchion) were measured as well. Statistically significant differences of height and volume according to sex and side were assessed through two-way ANOVA test: sexually dimorphic measurements were further assessed through one-way ANCOVA test using the three cranial measurements as covariates (p < 0.05). RESULTS: On average pterygopalatine fossa height was 24.1 ± 3.5 mm in males, and 22.8 ± 3.4 mm in females, whereas volume was 0.930 ± 0.181 cm3 in males and 0.817 ± 0.157 cm3 in females, with statistically significant differences according to sex (p < 0.05), but not to side (p > 0.05); interaction was negligible for both the measurements. ANCOVA test verified that sexual dimorphism of both measurements is independent from general cranial size (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlighted the sexual dimorphism of pterygopalatine fossa: results may improve the knowledge of this anatomical structure difficult to explore, but crucial in several fields of clinics and surgery.
Entities:
Keywords:
3D segmentation; Anatomy; CT-scan; Pterygopalatine fossa