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

• Published in: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 461 - 465
• Main Authors: Khan, Afroze S., Pilavakis, Yiannis, Batty, Vincent, Harries, Philip G., Salib, Rami J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01-04-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anatomic Variation; Anatomic Variations; Anatomy; Anatomy & physiology; Carotid Artery, Internal - diagnostic imaging; Ears & hearing; Embryology; Eustachian Tube - abnormalities; Eustachian Tube - blood supply; Eustachian Tube - diagnostic imaging; Eustachian Tube - pathology; Female; Humans; Imaging; Incidental Findings; Mastoid - diagnostic imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Ossification, Heterotopic - diagnostic imaging; Radiology; Sinuses; Sphenoid Sinus - abnormalities; Sphenoid Sinus - blood supply; Sphenoid Sinus - diagnostic imaging; Surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Sphenoid; Embryology; Sinus; Paranasal sinuses; Development; Anatomy; Eustachian tube
• ISSN: 0930-1038; 1279-8517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00276-016-1740-8

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.