Sternberg's canal - cause of congenital sphenoidal meningocele

We present a case of a 29-year-old female complaining of right-sided watery nasal discharge. Radiological investigations identified an intrasphenoidal meningocele. The origin of the meningocele was pinpointed to the right par asellar region and was confirmed surgically. The parasellar bony defect app eared to be due to persistence of the lateral craniopharyngeal canal (Stern berg's canal). Therefore, we assume a congenital origin for the intraspheno idal meningocele found in the patient. Acquired bony defects of the sphenoi d sinus are unlikely at the fusion planes of the different sphenoid bone co mponents. Knowledge of the complex ontogeny of the sphenoid bone is an impo rtant key to differentiating between congenital and acquired sphenoid sinus meningoceles.