Anatomic variations of the frontal sinus

INTRODUCTION

Minimally invasive approaches are increasing in popularity. We have undertaken an anatomic and radiological study of the frontal sinus that is frequently involved in the supercilliary minicraniotomy used to access the parasellar region.

OBJECTIVE

We wanted to evaluate the prevalence and morphological characteristics of the frontal sinus in a certain population sample.

METHODS

98 randomly assigned individuals were subjected to CT examinations. The antero-posterior diameter, sagittal diameter, transverse diameter and total volume of the frontal sinus were calculated.

RESULTS

The frontal sinus tended to be larger in males than in females with the exception of the transverse diameter (p < 0.10).

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the anatomic variations of the frontal sinus is important in surgical approaches through the superciliary arc in order to avoid complications such as infections and CSF fistula.

[Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis]

A case of a 38 year-old female patient admitted to the hospital with stroke is reported. Transesophageal echodoppler cardiogram showed mitral valve prolapse associated with a vegetation on its anterior leaflet, and this vegetation was a possible embolic source. The follow-up without signs of infectious disease, the good clinical outcome and the regression of the valvar vegetation without use of antibiotics consolidated the diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. As far as it is known, this is the first reported case with antemortem diagnosis and good outcome with treatment with aspirin and ticlopidine.