Anat Cell Biol.  2022 Sep;55(3):373-375. 10.5115/acb.22.017.

A giant foramen of Vesalius: case report

Affiliations
  • 1Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
  • 2Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
  • 3Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
  • 4Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
  • 5Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.
  • 6Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
  • 7Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
  • 8Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA.
  • 9University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Abstract

Anatomical variations identified at the skull base can result in challenges to the clinician. For example, the anatomy of the foramen ovale and its neighboring structures is critical knowledge for the surgeon who performs transcutaneous approaches to the foramen ovale for treating patients with trigeminal neuralgia. One nearby structure that can compound invasive procedures and potentially result in complications is the foramen of Vesalius. Although usually small, we report a giant foramen of Vesalius found in an adult female skull. The anatomy and clinical aspects of such a finding are discussed and related to other reports in the literature.

Keyword

Anatomy; Cadaver; Anatomical variations; Foramen of Vesalius

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Skull base of the case presented herein. Note the enlarged foramen of Vesalius (arrow) and its relationship to surrounding skull base foramina such as the foramen ovale (FO), foramen lacerum (FL), foramen spinosum (FS), and foramen magnum (FM) seen here posterolaterally.


Reference

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