Lateral craniopharyngeal canal

Last revised by Frank Gaillard on 11 Oct 2023

The lateral craniopharyngeal canal (also known as the Sternberg canal) is described as a membranous space in the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus, lateral to foramen rotundum 1.

They are encountered in 0.7% to 4% of CT examination and specimens 1.

Historically, these canals have been suggested by some authors as the precursor of meningoencephalocele found along the medial floor of the middle cranial fossa, sometimes resulting in spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea. How often this is the case is debated, with most such defects located further laterally and found in the presence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension 1,2.

Gross anatomy

The lateral craniopharyngeal canal is believed to occur due to failure of complete fusion at the junction of multiple centers of ossification of the sphenoid bone (alisphenoid, basisphenoid and presphenoid centers of ossification) 1.

History and etymology

Maximilian Sternberg (1863 - 1934) German physician, mathematician and physicist, first suggested the existence of the lateral craniopharyngeal canal in 1888 3,4.

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