Eustachian tube communicating with sphenoid sinus: report of a novel anatomical variant

Afroze S Khan; Yiannis Pilavakis; Vincent Batty; Philip G Harries; Rami J Salib

doi:10.1007/s00276-016-1740-8

Eustachian tube communicating with sphenoid sinus: report of a novel anatomical variant

Surg Radiol Anat. 2017 Apr;39(4):461-465. doi: 10.1007/s00276-016-1740-8. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Authors

Afroze S Khan¹, Yiannis Pilavakis², Vincent Batty³, Philip G Harries², Rami J Salib²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK. afroze.khan@nhs.net.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.
³ Department of Radiology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.

PMID: 27650645
DOI: 10.1007/s00276-016-1740-8

Abstract

Reports of congenital anomalies of the Eustachian Tube (ET) are scarce, and often associated with chromosomal abnormalities. We report a unique case of a completely bony left Eustachian tube which communicated with the sphenoid sinus. This report details these findings and discusses the potential embryological basis and implications of such an unusual anatomy, in the context of a comprehensive literature review.

Keywords: Anatomy; Development; Embryology; Eustachian tube; Paranasal sinuses; Sinus; Sphenoid.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anatomic Variation*
Carotid Artery, Internal / diagnostic imaging
Eustachian Tube / abnormalities*
Eustachian Tube / blood supply
Eustachian Tube / diagnostic imaging
Eustachian Tube / pathology
Female
Humans
Incidental Findings
Mastoid / diagnostic imaging
Middle Aged
Ossification, Heterotopic / diagnostic imaging*
Sphenoid Sinus / abnormalities*
Sphenoid Sinus / blood supply
Sphenoid Sinus / diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed