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Analysis of the tortuosity of the internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus

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Abstract

Background

The morphology of the internal carotid artery at the skull base is important in radiologic interpretation, surgery, and more recently, endovascular interventional and diagnostic procedures. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of the shape of the carotid siphon can be important in the clinical realm.

Methods

In this study, we evaluated the shape of the carotid siphon from a lateral perspective on cerebral angiography. These shapes were then correlated to the Lang and Reiter classification.

Results

Types A, B, and C were distributed as follows: type A 12 (30 %), B 16 (40 %), 12 (30 %). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in patient ages between the three types (type A 54.6 ± 14.2 years, type B 55.1 ± 14.9 years, and type C 52.7 ± 16.9 years). Normalized for gender disproportion, there was no significant gender predominance for any type (type A female:male = 1.4:1; type B female:male = 1.1:1; type C female:male = 0.7:1).

Conclusions

Such a classification scheme with additional application in another group might be of use to future studies aimed at the morphology of the cavernous part of the internal carotid artery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Christoph J. Griessenauer & R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Anatomy, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Bulent Yalcin

  3. Department of Anatomy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania

    Petru Matusz

  4. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George, Grenada

    Marios Loukas

  5. Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Charles G. Kulwin & Aaron A. Cohen Gadol

Authors
  1. Christoph J. Griessenauer
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  2. Bulent Yalcin
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  3. Petru Matusz
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  4. Marios Loukas
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  5. Charles G. Kulwin
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  6. R. Shane Tubbs
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  7. Aaron A. Cohen Gadol
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Correspondence to R. Shane Tubbs.

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Griessenauer, C.J., Yalcin, B., Matusz, P. et al. Analysis of the tortuosity of the internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus. Childs Nerv Syst 31, 941–944 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2674-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2674-x

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