Sphenoidotomy: Transnasal Approach

Indications:

• Isolated disease of sphenoid sinus

Highlights:

• Enter sphenoid os between superior turbinate and septum.
• Can remove inferior one-third of superior turbinate to visualize natural sphenoid os

Keep in Mind/Things to Remember:

• Top of maxillary sinus and natural sphenoid os are usually in the same horizontal plane
• Open sphenoid os is in the inferior and medial direction
• Optic canal (above) and carotid canal (below) can be visualized in the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus