Surgical anatomy of the nasofrontal duct: Anatomical and computed tomographic analysis

Objectives: Although complete anatomical knowledge of the nasofrontal duct has been of great importance, little is known about it, The aim of this stu dy is to examine the drainage site of the nasofrontal duct and to investiga te the anatomical boundaries of the nasofrontal duct according to the drain age site. Study Design: One hundred sagittally divided adult head specimens were analyzed by computed tomography and dissection under the surgical mic roscope. Methods: Computed tomography scans of 50 adult cadaver heads were taken sagittally at 1-mm intervals and coronally at 3-mm intervals to find the nasofrontal duct. One hundred specimens, made up of sagittally divided adult cadaver heads, were dissected under the microscope to study the struc ture of the nasofrontal duct, Results: We identified the anterior, posterio r, medial, and lateral boundaries of the nasofrontal duct. In the most comm on type, the superior portion of the uncinate process formed the anterior b order and the superior portion of the bulla ethmoidalis formed the posterio r border of the nasofrontal duct. The conchal plate formed the medial borde r and the suprainfundibular plate formed the lateral border of the nasofron tal duct. Other variations are described in detail Conclusions: To widen th e nasofrontal communication, removing the upper portion of the ground lamel la of the ethmoid bulla, which is the posterior boundary of the nasofrontal duct, with cutting forceps seems to be a safe and easy method.