Supraorbital air cells
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Maxime St-Amant had no recorded disclosures.
View Maxime St-Amant's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures- Supra-orbital air cell
- Supraorbital cells
- Supra-orbital cells
- Supraorbital ethmoid air cell
- Supra-orbital ethmoid air cell
- Supraorbital ethmoid air cells
- Supra-orbital ethmoid air cells
- Supraorbital cell
- Supraorbital pneumatisation
- Supraorbital air cells
Supraorbital air cells are an anatomical variant of the paranasal sinuses. They consist of cells originating from the anterior ethmoid air cells extending posteriorly and superiorly over the orbit from the frontal recess. They may mimic septated frontal sinuses as their posterior wall is the skull base.
Gross anatomy
These cells consist of pneumatization of the orbital plate of the frontal bone posterior to the frontal sinus and frontal recess. They usually drain into the lateral aspect of the frontal recess.
They are identified in approximately 25-35% of subjects and can be multiple in up to 5% of individuals.
Practical points
When a supraorbital cell is present, care should be taken on pre-functional endoscopic sinus surgery imaging studies to identify the anterior ethmoidal notch as the anterior ethmoidal artery is usually seen freely traveling within the ethmoid air cells and thus at greater risk of intraoperative injury. Moreover, these cells may contribute to obstructing the frontal recess and may be mistaken preoperatively for the frontal recess.
References
- 1. David L. Daniels, Mahmood F. Mafee, Michelle M. Smith, Timothy L. Smith, Thomas P. Naidich, W. Douglas Brown, William E. Bolger, Leighton P. Mark, John L. Ulmer, Lotfi Hacein-Bey, James M. Strottmann. The Frontal Sinus Drainage Pathway and Related Structures. (2003) American Journal of Neuroradiology. 24 (8): 1618. Pubmed
- 2. Huang BY, Lloyd KM, DelGaudio JM, Jablonowski E, Hudgins PA. Failed endoscopic sinus surgery: spectrum of CT findings in the frontal recess. (2009) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 29 (1): 177-95. doi:10.1148/rg.291085118 - Pubmed
- 3. O'Brien WT, Hamelin S, Weitzel EK. The Preoperative Sinus CT: Avoiding a "CLOSE" Call with Surgical Complications. (2016) Radiology. 281 (1): 10-21. doi:10.1148/radiol.2016152230 - Pubmed
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