Arteria etmoidal anterior: análisis anatómico por tomografía computada en población mexicana.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anatomy and anatomical relationships of the anterior ethmoidal artery in the Mexican population by analyzing computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses, in order to make otolaryngologists aware of the anatomical variations of the anterior ethmoidal artery in different populations to prevent complications during frontal and ethmoid sinus surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective type, where computed scans of the nose and paranasal sinuses were included from December 2021 to December 2022. The studies were obtained from the database of data from a private radiological center. Images were made with a slice thickness of 1 mm. The axial, coronal and sagittal sections were analyzed, taking different measurements comparing the morphological variability between male and female gender, Asian, European and Mexican populations. RESULTS: Two hundred computed scans of the nose and paranasal sinuses (400 sides) were included showing a variability between the intranasal length of the anterior ethmoid artery on both sides. The rest of the measurements presented a similar range and minimal variation between the right and left sides and between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The type of race and demographic group of a patient should be considered when analyzing the preoperative images to have a safe surgical planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]