What is pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process?
Pneumatized anterior clinoid process (ACP) is a common incidental finding seen on cross-sectional imaging and intraoperatively. The sphenoid sinus varies in the extent of aeration along the sphenoid bone. Pneumatization begins in childhood and ends in adolescence.
What does anterior clinoid process mean?
The posterior border of small wing of sphenoid, smooth and rounded, is received into the lateral fissure of the brain; the medial end of this border forms the anterior clinoid process, which gives attachment to the tentorium cerebelli; it is sometimes joined to the middle clinoid process by a spicule of bone, and when …
What does the clinoid process do?
The posterior clinoid processes deepen the sella turcica, and give attachment to the tentorium cerebelli.
Where is the anterior clinoid process?
Background: The anterior clinoid process (ACP) is located close to the optic nerve, internal carotid artery, ophthalmic artery, and can be easily injured in an ACP-related surgery. An anatomical study clearly defining the ACP is of great importance.
What does well Pneumatized mean?
: having air-filled cavities.
What is Clinoidal meningioma?
Clinoidal meningiomas (CM) are benign tumors arising from the meningeal covering of the anterior clinoid process (ACP). These tumors have been referred to by various other terms, such as medial or inner sphenoid wing meningiomas.
What is Tuberculum Sella?
The tuberculum sellae forms the anterior wall of the sella turcica, which houses the pituitary gland. It is an elongated ridge located immediately posterior to the chiasmatic groove, hence is related to the optic chiasm and anterior portions of the optic tracts.
What is the weakest part of the skull?
pterion
Clinical significance The pterion is known as the weakest part of the skull. The anterior division of the middle meningeal artery runs underneath the pterion. Consequently, a traumatic blow to the pterion may rupture the middle meningeal artery causing an epidural haematoma.
What does Pneumatized mean?
Medical Definition of pneumatization : the presence or development of air-filled cavities in a bone pneumatization of the temporal bone.
What does Pneumatized mean in medical terms?
When should a meningioma be removed?
If your meningioma causes signs and symptoms or shows signs that it’s growing, your doctor may recommend surgery. Surgeons work to remove the meningioma completely. But because a meningioma may occur near many delicate structures in the brain or spinal cord, it isn’t always possible to remove the entire tumor.
What is the average size of a meningioma?
Most are considered “benign” because they are slow-growing with low potential to spread. Meningioma tumors can become quite large. Diameters of 2 inches (5 cm.) are not uncommon.
What does asymmetric pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process mean?
Asymmetrically pneumatized anterior clinoid process may present a diagnostic challenge when seen on MRI and may be misinterpreted as a thrombosed aneurysm or a mass.
How to characterize the anterior clinoid process on CT?
It is easy to characterize on CT. Asymmetrically underpneumatized anterior clinoid process contains normal marrow and surrounding cortical bone, and appears as high T1 iso-T2, non-enhancing structure. Completely pneumatized anterior clinoid process appears hypointense on all pulse sequences and may mimic the flow void of an aneurysm.
Is the anterior clinoid process hypointense or pneumatized?
The contralateral anterior clinoid process is pneumatized and appears extremely hypointense on all pulse sequences. A different patient for comparison purposes. There is asymmetric pneumatization of the anterior clinoid processes with the left side pneumatized.
How is the orbital apex and anterior clinoid process aerated?
The bones forming the orbital apex and anterior clinoid process are often aerated either by an Onodi cell or a lateral recess of the sphenoidal sinus. These may in turn become obstructed, leading to expansile mucoceles.