Assessment of location of anterior ethmoidal artery using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)

Abstract

Anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) is an important landmark, which may be accidentally injured or traumatized during surgical procedures. This study aimed to determine the position of AEA on CBCTscans. In this descriptive analytical study, CBCT scans of 129 patients evaluated. The mean distance from AEA to anterior base of the skull, posterior frontal sinus wall, nasion, anterior nasal spine (ANS), orbital roof, inferior turbinate and the mean angle between AEA and ANS were evaluated using SIDEXIS 3D software. Independent and paired t-test and Fisher's test were used for statistical analyses with P< 0.05 level of significance. The mean distance from AEA was 11.60+/-1.94 mm to orbital roof, 32.66+/-4.33 mm to inferior turbinate, 8.96+/-4.51 to posterior wall of the frontal sinus, 2.09 +/-2.18mm to the anterior base of the skull, 18.01+/-3.90 mm to the nasion and 58.69+/-4.24 mm to the ANS. The angle between AEA and NS was 55.15+/-4.36 degrees. The distances from AEA to orbital roof, inferior turbinate, nasion and ANS in men were significantly greater than those in women (P<0.05). nasion. (alpha = 0/05) Surgical procedures in areas close to AEA are high-risk. Determination of the position of AEA prior to endoscopic surgery of the sinus is highly important. CBCT can help determine the location of AEA prior to surgery to prevent unwanted surgical complications.