Pan Arab Journal of Rhinology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2020  |  Volume : 10  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 58--62

Intercarotid distance variations in pituitary adenomas: a cone-beam computed tomographic study


Omar Abd El-Moneam El-Banhawya1, Ayman El-Sayed Abd El-Aziza1, Ahmed N M. Taha2, Wael M Safwat3, Magdi El-Sayed Abd El-Ghafar4,  
1 Department of Otolaryngeology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Menoufia, Egypt
2 Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Menoufia, Egypt
3 Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Menoufia, Egypt
4 Department of Otolaryngeology, El-Hamoul General Hospital, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

Correspondence Address:
Magdi El-Sayed Abd El-Ghafar
Dakahlia, Mansoura, Ahmed Maher Street, El-Mansoura, Daqahlya
Egypt

Abstract

Introduction Transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery has become the most popular procedure to approach different sellar lesions. Internal carotid artery injury during this approach could be minimized by accurate preoperative assessment of its course and detection of anatomical variations. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 24 cases with pituitary adenomas. The intercarotid distance (ICD) was measured by cone-beam computed tomography, and defined as the minimal distance between the inner walls of the carotid sulcus of the horizontal parasellar internal carotid artery. Comparison of measurements in the study group with that of healthy individuals of the control group was done. Aim The aim of this study was to detect variations in ICD with pituitary adenomas. Results This study showed that ICD was statistically significantly higher in the study than control groups (P=0.01). A statistically significant correlation between lesion size and ICD was found (P=0.04). A statistically significant difference between the ICD with the type of sellar pathology was found. The widest distance was found with suprasellar lesions (mean = 8.93 ± 2.09, P1 = 0.009) and the least in sellar lesions (mean = 16.58 ± 1.94). Conclusion Preoperative measurement of ICD is applicable and helpful in operative planning for the trans-sphenoid approach to pituitary lesions. The size of the adenomas directly affects the ICD with larger adenomas showing wider distance.



How to cite this article:
El-Moneam El-Banhawya OA, Abd El-Aziza AE, M. Taha AN, Safwat WM, Abd El-Ghafar ME. Intercarotid distance variations in pituitary adenomas: a cone-beam computed tomographic study.Pan Arab J Rhinol 2020;10:58-62


How to cite this URL:
El-Moneam El-Banhawya OA, Abd El-Aziza AE, M. Taha AN, Safwat WM, Abd El-Ghafar ME. Intercarotid distance variations in pituitary adenomas: a cone-beam computed tomographic study. Pan Arab J Rhinol [serial online] 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];10:58-62
Available from: http://www.PAJR.eg.net/text.asp?2020/10/2/58/307540


Full Text



 Introduction



Transnasal endoscopic surgeries became the method of choice for approaching different lesions affecting the skull base, the clivus, and cranio-cervical junction [1]. The method has gained popularity from its advantages of good visualization with angled visualization, minimal tissue handling, and more cosmetic outcomes [2]. Nowadays, endoscopic transnasal trans-sphenoidal surgery is the most popular approach for sellar lesions, with possibility for more extensions to approach more lateral lesions [3].

Prevention of injury to vital structures during endoscopic skull base surgeries is the core for successful and safe intervention. Internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is the most dangerous and even disastrous complication that may be encountered during the trans-sphenoid surgery. Thorough anatomical knowledge of the surgeons is the key for prevention of this complication [4]. A risk of ICA injury is related to its close relation with the sphenoid sinus, with thin bony covering, which may be less than 0.5 mm [5]. Also, the dehiscent lateral sphenoid wall was reported to be about 22% with higher risk of ICA injury [6].

Arterial injuries during endoscopic endonasal surgery is about 0.1–0.9% in which ICA injury represents about 0–0.26% [7]. Besides its high mortality effect, the injured ICA may be sequenced by vasospasm, pseudoaneurysm formation, thrombosis, caroticocavernous fistula, and embolic brain infarction [8].

The intercarotid distance (ICD) showed variable measurements in different literatures. It is important to be aware of its anatomical variations during trans-sphenoidal surgery to avoid potential catastrophic injury to ICA [9]. This study aimed to analyze ICD measurements in cases with pituitary adenomas in comparison with measurements in controls.

 Patients and methods



This study was conducted on 48 individuals: 24 cases with pituitary adenomas represented the study group and 24 healthy individuals represented the control group. Patients were recruited from Menoufia University hospitals.

Inclusion criteria

Patients with pituitary adenomas are included in this study: eight patients are with pituitary adenomas confined to sella, eight with suprasellar extension, and eight with parasellar extension.

Exclusion criteria

Patients with conditions that disturb the normal configuration of sphenoid sinuses and the bony sella were excluded. As those with craniofacial anomalies, sphenoid sinus lesions, history of sino-nasal or trans-sphenoid surgeries, and history of skull base trauma affect its bony structures. In addition, patients who showed radiological artifacts/distortion in the area of study were excluded.

Cone-beam computed tomographic examination protocol

Both the study and control groups were subjected to cone-beam computed tomography scanning using iCAT next-generation cone-beam computed tomography machine (Imaging Science International, ISI, Hatfield, PA, USA). Selected imaging protocol was 16 cm diameter × 11 cm height field of view and resolution of 0.25 mm voxel size. Exposure parameters were 120 KVP, 5 mA, with an exposure time of 14.7 s. Raw images were imported into specific image analysis software (on-demand 3D App, Cybermed, Seoul, Korea). Digital images were analyzed properly in both orthogonal and reconstructed planes. Images are taken in sitting position without contrast injection.

The ICD is measured as the smallest distance between the inner walls of the carotid sulci of the horizontal parasellar ICA in millimeters [Figure 1]. Measurements were evaluated in coronal views and compared in both study and control groups. In the study group, the minimum measured ICD is 13.87 mm and the maximum measured ICD is 30.40 mm [Figure 2].{Figure 1}{Figure 2}

Statistical analysis and data interpretation

Data were fed to the computer and analyzed using SPSS software package version 22.0 (IBM, USA). Qualitative data were described using number and percentage. Quantitative data were described using median (minimum and maximum) for nonparametric data and mean, SD for parametric data after testing normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Significance of the obtained results was judged at the (0.05) level.

Data analysis

Qualitative data

Monte Carlo test as a correction for ?2 test when more than 25% of cells have a count of less than five in tables (>2 × 2).

Quantitative data

Parametric tests: Student's t-test was used to compare two independent groups.

One-way analysis of variance test was used to compare more than two independent groups with post-hoc Tukey test to detect pairwise comparison.

Nonparametric tests: Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare two independent groups.

Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare more than two independent groups with Mann–Whitney U test to detect pairwise comparison.

Correlation

Spearman's correlation

Spearman's rank-order correlation is used to determine the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two non-normally distributed continuous variables and/or ordinal variable.

 Results



The study group included 24 cases (18 women and six men). The sex ratio is three: The patients' ages ranged between 20 and 60 years (minimum–maximum: 27.0–57.0), with a mean age of 41.29 ± 8.17 [Table 1].{Table 1}

The ICD is statistically significantly higher in the study group than the control group (P=0.01) [Table 2] and [Figure 3].{Table 2}{Figure 3}

There was statistically significant correlation between adenoma size and the ICD (P=0.04) [Table 3].{Table 3}

Statistically significant difference between ICD and the type of sellar pathology was seen. The highest distance was in suprasellar lesions (mean = 8.93 ± 2.09), which was of statistical significance (P1=0.009) and the least distance was in sellar lesions (mean = 16.58 ± 1.94) [Table 4] and [Figure 4].{Table 4}{Figure 4}

 Discussion



Endoscopic trans-sphenoid surgery has become the standard approach for the removal of pituitary adenomas. This is achieved by minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues with no brain retraction [10]. The most dangerous complication during this approach is ICA injury and its catastrophic outcomes [11].

Different literatures studied the variation of ICD of parasellar ICA in pituitary adenomas. Hamid et al. [12] in their study on patients with pituitary adenomas reported that the mean of MRI measurements was about 23 mm. Sasagawa et al. [13] in their study showed that the ICD average was about 20.09 mm. Lin et al. [14] in their MRI study in cases with nonfunctioning adenomas reported ICD measurements of about 23.69 mm. Nunes et al. [15] reported measurements of about 24.3 mm. The results of the present study found that the measurement range was about 23.70 ± 4.86 mm with minimal variations from previous studies.

In controls with no sellar lesions, literatures studied the ICD reported convergent measures. Knappe et al. [16] in their MRI study found the ICD was about 17.8 mm. Perondi et al. [17] in their study on fresh cadaveric heads reported that the measurements was about 18 mm. Nunes et al. [15] reported measurements of about 19.4 mm. Ismaila et al. [18] reported in their cadaveric study that the ICD range was about 18––20 mm. Farimaz et al. [19] in their study on Turkish individuals reported measurements of 16.5 mm. The present study showed that the ICD measurements were about 20.29 ± 4.39. The results of the present study support the findings of the previous study.

The present study reported that the ICD was higher in the study group (23.70 ± 4.86) than the control group (20.29 ± 4.39), with a difference of statistical significance (P=0.01). This highly supports the findings of Nunes et al. [15], who reported high statistical difference between cases and controls (P=0.001). These data document significantly the lateral displacement of parasellar ICA in sellar and peri-sellar lesions.

Lin et al. [14] and Nunes et al. [15] reported linear relationship between the size of adenomas and ICA lateral displacement and thereby increase in ICD. They reported higher measurements of ICD in patients with larger pituitary adenomas than those with smaller lesions. These findings are supported by the findings of this study, as the present study found a statistically significant difference between ICD and adenoma size (P=0.04). These data denotes the direct effect of lesion size on the ICA which will be displaced laterally with more increase in the intervening distance.

In this study, wider ICD is found in lesions with suprasellar extension of high statistical difference (P1=0.009). This is in agreement with Hamid et al. [12], who reported that cases with macroadenomas with extrasellar extension showed higher ICD than those with microadenomas. This can be explained by adenomas with suprasellar extension usually presenting larger than those with parasellar extension as the craniocaudal extension of sellar lesions is easier and more silent. So, these lesions usually present with a larger size. The growing lesion will be limited by the diaphragma sellae at certain stage making the expansion effect direct laterally. Displacement of the ICA will be encountered, while the lesion is still asymptomatic.

 Conclusion



The measurement of ICD and its variations is feasible preoperatively and reproducible for operative planning in trans-sphenoidal approach. Patients with pituitary adenomas have wider ICD than normal individuals. The size of the adenomas directly affects the ICD with larger adenomas showing a wider ICD.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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