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Non-sphenopalatine dominant arterial supply of the nasal cavity: an unusual anatomical variation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2008

D Biswas*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK
S K Ross
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK
A Sama
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK
A Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Deb Biswas, Department of Otolaryngology, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. Fax: 00441159709748 E-mail: drdbiswas@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective:

We present a rare and clinically relevant anomaly of the sphenopalatine artery in relation to its blood supply of the nasal mucosa, with implications for the management of epistaxis.

Method:

Case report and review of the world literature, using Medline through Pub Med (1950–2005), EMBASE (1980–2005) and Ovid (1958–2005), searching for papers using a combination of terms including ‘spheno-palatine artery’, ‘anterior ethmoidal artery’ and ‘epistaxis’.

Results:

In the presented case of refractory epistaxis, endoscopic and subsequent endovascular management failed to identify a significant supply from the sphenopalatine arteries bilaterally. The main supply was found to be from the anterior ethmoidal arteries.

Conclusion:

After a detailed search, the authors failed to locate any similar case in the English literature.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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Footnotes

Presented at the Joint ENT-UK and Royal Society of Medicine meeting, 6–7 September 2007, London, UK.

References

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