Evaluation of Radiologic Landmarks for Differentiation of Vidian Canal and Foramen Rotundum in Computed Tomography Scan Publisher



Ma Mohammadzadeh Maryam A ; R Erfanian REZA ; N Batavani NASIM ; S Zand SAMANEH ; K Eftekharian KOUROSH
Source: Indian Journal of Otology Published:2025

Abstract

Background: The skull base has one of the most sophisticated anatomies among body parts. Regarding this complicated regional anatomy, the significance of the anatomical elements, and the catastrophic consequences of the probable errors at the endoscopic surgeries, flawless differentiation of skull base elements seems indispensable. As a result, introducing consistent radiological landmarks in axial computed tomography (CT) scans can be helpful in clinical practice. In this study, we examined radiologic features for differentiating the vidian canal and foramen rotundum in axial CT scan cuts. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data from 250 patients referred for paranasal sinuses or temporal CT scan was extracted. Anatomical variations such as protrusion of the vidian canal and foramen rotundum in the sphenoid sinus and the presence of connection of elements to the inferior orbital fissure were investigated. Results: On the right side, 3.6% and on the left side 3.2% of foramen rotundums had no visible connection to inferior orbital fissures in the axial cuts. On the right sides 4.4% and 5.2% at the left sides there was a visible connection between the vidian canal and the inferior orbital fissure. If the canal is surrounded by the sphenoid sinus, with an odds ratio of 20.6 on the right and 12.8 on the left side, this canal is vidian, not rotundum. Conclusion: Complete canal protrusion in the sphenoid sinus had a high odds ratio in favor of the vidian canal, but the lack of protrusion did not help the differentiation. Our study showed that a visible connection with an inferior orbital fissure is strongly associated with foramen rotundum in axial CT scan imaging. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.