SavedAdd your journal

Journals / The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat / 2026 / Volume: 35 Issue: 3

Volumetric Analysis of the Onodi Cell in Relation to Perisphenoidal Anatomical Variations

Gülay Aktar Uğurlu(Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology)0000-0002-4189-6750
Burak Numan Uğurlu(Hitit University Erol Olçok Training and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology)0000-0001-5415-701X
Zeynep Banu Aydın(Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology)0000-0002-8021-3801
Onur Günaydın(Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology)0000-0003-4491-3613
Sevim Felek(Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology)0000-0002-6132-9075
Pages
—
Publication Date
2025-09-25
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings emphasise that both the presence and size of the OC are important anatomical considerations that should be carefully evaluated preoperatively using high resolution CT to reduce the risk of complications in endoscopic sinus surgery.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the presence and volume of the Onodi cell (OC) and to investigate its anatomical relationship with surgically important neighbouring structures such as the optic canal (OCa), internal carotid canal (CC), and vidian canal (VC), focusing on canal types and bony dehiscence.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: High-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of 110 patients were analysed, with 220 sphenoid sinus sides evaluated.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings emphasise that both the presence and size of the OC are important anatomical considerations that should be carefully evaluated preoperatively using high resolution CT to reduce the risk of complications in endoscopic sinus surgery.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Onodi cell · optic canal · carotid canal

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the presence and volume of the Onodi cell (OC) and to investigate its anatomical relationship with surgically important neighbouring structures such as the optic canal (OCa), internal carotid canal (CC), and vidian canal (VC), focusing on canal types and bony dehiscence. Materials and Methods: High-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of 110 patients were analysed, with 220 sphenoid sinus sides evaluated. Onodi cells were identified and classified based on their location. Their volumes were measured using manual segmentation in the OSIRIX software. The types of OCa, CC, and VC, as well as the presence or absence of bony dehiscence in these canals, were radiologically assessed. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between the OC volume, canal configurations and dehiscence status. Results: The OC was present in 30% of cases. Its presence was significantly associated with higher-risk OCa types (Types 3 and 4) and with optic nerve dehiscence. Onodi cell volume was significantly greater in patients with type 3 OCa and type 3 CC. Internal carotid artery and VC dehiscence were also more common in cases with larger OC volumes. Conclusion: This study is one of the few to quantitatively assess OC volume and its associations with nearby critical neurovascular structures. The findings emphasise that both the presence and size of the OC are important anatomical considerations that should be carefully evaluated preoperatively using high resolution CT to reduce the risk of complications in endoscopic sinus surgery.

🔖

Cite This Article

Uğurlu, G. A., Uğurlu, B. N., Aydın, Z. B., Günaydın, O., Felek, S. (2025). Volumetric Analysis of the Onodi Cell in Relation to Perisphenoidal Anatomical Variations. The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat, Volume: 35 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.26650/Tr-ENT.2025.1683522

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (20)

  1. Özdemir A, Bayar Muluk N, Asal N, Şahan MH, Inal M. Is there a relationship between Onodi cell and optic canal? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2019;276(4):1057-64. google scholar
  2. Huyen Tran L, Vinh Thuan NL. The relationship between optic nerve and Onodi cells on CT scan. Eur J Anat 2024;28(3):373-9. google scholar
  3. Bozan C, Yalcin ED. Evaluation of Relationship Between Sphenoid Sinus Septation and Onodi Cells Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography. Eur J Ther 2022;28(3):230-5. google scholar
  4. Asal N, Bayar Muluk N, Inal M, Şahan MH, Doğan A, Arıkan OK. Carotid canal and optic canal at sphenoid sinus. Neurosurg Rev 2019;42(2):519-29. google scholar
  5. Senturk M, Guler I, Azgin I, Sakarya EU, Ovet G, Alatas N, Tolu I, Erdur O. The role of Onodi cells in sphenoiditis: results of multiplanar reconstruction of computed tomography scanning. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2017;83(1):88-93. google scholar
  6. Dieguez FL, Rosa CSD, Braz-Silva PH, Lopes SLPDC, Costa ALF. Three-dimensional volumetric investigation of Onodi cells: A multi-slice computed tomography study. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024;28(02):e196-202. google scholar
  7. Weinberger DG, Anand VK, Al-Rawi M, Cheng HJ, Messina AV. Surgical anatomy and variations of the Onodi cell. Am J Rhinol 1996;10(6):365-72. google scholar
  8. Stammberger HR, Kennedy DW. Paranasal sinuses: Anatomic terminology and nomenclature. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1995;104(10_suppl):7-16. google scholar
  9. Yazici D. Evaluation of anatomical variations on paranasal sinus CT. ENT Updates. 2018 Dec 30; https://entupdates.com/en/evaluation-of-anatomical-variations-on-paranasal-sinus-ct-13124 google scholar
  10. DeLano MC, F. Y. Fun, S. James Zinreich. Relationship of the optic nerve to the posterior paranasal sinuses: a CT anatomic study. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1996;17(4):669-75. google scholar
  11. Şirikci A, Bayazıt YA, Bayram M, Mumbuç S, Güngör K, Kanlıkama M. Variations of sphenoid and related structures. Eur Radiol 2000;10(5):844-8. google scholar
  12. Mohebbi A, Rajaeih S, Safdarian M, Omidian P. The sphenoid sinus, foramen rotundum and vidian canal: a radiological study of anatomical relationships. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2017;83(4):381-7. google scholar
  13. Jaworek-Troć J, Ochwat K, Walocha JA, Zamojska I, Lipski M, Żytkowski A, et al. Prevalence of the Onodi cell in the Polish adult population: an anatomical computed tomography study. Folia Morphol 2023;82(4):885-91. google scholar
  14. Driben JS, Bolger WE, Robles HA, Cable B, Zinreich SJ. The Reliability of Computerized Tomographic Detection of the Onodi (Sphenoethmoid) Cell. Am J Rhinol 1998;12(2):105-12. google scholar
  15. Chmielik LP, Chmielik A. The prevalence of the Onodi cell – Most suitable method of CT evaluation in its detection. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2017;97:202-5. google scholar
  16. Fadda GL, Urbanelli A, Petrelli A, Trossarello M, Nitro L, Saibene AM, et al. Type IV optic nerve and Onodi cell: is there a risk of injury during sphenoid sinus surgery? Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 2024;44(1):36-41. google scholar
  17. Ravindra BN, Devika C. Evaluation of optic nerve variations in relation to posterior paranasal sinuses among study population of Mandya District of Karnataka State. Int J Radiol Diagn Imaging 2020;3(3):16-20. google scholar
  18. Movahhedian N, Paknahad M, Abbasinia F, Khojatepour L. Cone beam computed tomography analysis of sphenoid sinus pneumatization and relationship with neurovascular structures. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 2021;20(1):105-14. google scholar
  19. Dias PCJ, Albernaz PLM, Yamashida HK. Relação anatômica do nervo óptico com o seio esfenoidal: estudo por tomografia computadorizada. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol 2004;70(5):651-7. google scholar
  20. Dias PCJ, Albernaz PLM, Yamashida HK. Relação anatômica do nervo óptico com o seio esfenoidal: estudo por tomografia computadorizada. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol 2004;70(5):651-7. google scholar