Anatomic Relation of the Sphenoid Sinus to Dorello's Canal: Abducens Paralysis

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present the relation between the interior of the sphenoid sinus and Dorello's canal as found in the course of a study of thirty-eight specimens and to speculate on the possible clinical significance. THE ABDUCEN NERVE

Oculomotor Anomalies in Sellar and Parasellar Pathology

“…Tumors, inflammation and fractures of the wall of the sphenoidal sinus go together with direct invasion, edema or erosion of the bone with extension of the tumor to the sella region and lateral com pression of the n. VI [Dorello, 1906[Dorello, . 1908Bllancioni, 1923;Houser, 1932].…”

Unilateral abducens paralysis in primary neoplastic disease of the sphenoid sinus

“…It is defined in some of the current medical dictionaries 4 as a bony canal enclosing the abducens nerve, and sometimes occurring at the tip of the temporal bone. The earliest reference found and also cited by Houser 22 was Onodpl in 1914. Hollinshead 21 in his recent textbook of anatomy, refers to the canal and also to Houser's work, in his description of the anatomy of the abducens nerve.…”

“…In general the anatomic relationships of the sphenoid sinus located within the sphenoid bone covered above and laterally by the dura mater, may be summarized as follows: A paper by Dr. K. M. Houser 22 provides a particular interest in and anatomical explanation of the cases here presented. In May, 1932, at the meeting of the American Laryngological Association in Atlantic City, N .. J., he read his paper on "Anatomic Relations of the Sphenoid Sinus to Dorello's Canal."…”

“…The next question is why is abducens paralysis not found in all cases of sphenoid disease? Houser 22 provided the answer in his study of 38 sphenoid sinuses. He measured the distance between the interior of the sphenoid sinus and Dorello's Canal without removal of the lining membrane.…”