Inferolateral trunk: anatomical study, surgical relevance, and technical nuances in lateral transcavernous endoscopic endonasal surgery.

Key Points

• The aim is to investigate the inferolateral trunk's anatomy and its surgical implications in endoscopic procedures.
• Conducted a detailed anatomical investigation of the inferolateral trunk (ILT).
• Identified two reliable intraoperative landmarks: sellar floor and lateral pterygoid line (LPL).
• Analyzed potential effects of ILT sacrifice on cranial nerve function.
• Confirmed that ILT can be safely sacrificed without permanent cranial nerve deficits.
• Identified collateral blood supply supporting nerve function post-ILT sacrifice.