Prevalence of anatomical variants in the clivus: fossa navicularis magna, canalis basilaris medianus, and craniopharyngeal canal

BAYRAK S., BULUT D. G., ORHAN K.

SURGICAL AND RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY, cilt.41, sa.4, ss.477-483, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 41 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2019
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00276-019-02200-3
  • Dergi Adı: SURGICAL AND RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.477-483
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Canalis basilaris medianus, Clivus, Craniopharyngeal canal, Fossa navicularis magna, BEAM COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY, RECURRENT MENINGITIS, INFECTION, CYST
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

PurposeThis study determined the prevalence of fossa navicularis magna (FNM), canalis basilaris medianus (CBM), and craniopharyngeal canal (CPC), the size of FNMs, and types of CBM using 3D computed tomography (CT) images.MethodsA total of 1059 3D images [649 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 410 CT] were evaluated in this study. The prevalence of FNM, CBM, and CPC, length, width, and depth of FNM, and type of CBM were assessed.ResultsOverall, FNM was identified in 7.6%, CPC in 0.3%, and CBM in 2.5% of the study group. Type 2 (0.1%) and Type 6 (0.1%) are the least common CBM types. There was no significant difference between genders for depth and width measurements (p>0.05), however, the length of FNM was significantly higher in males than females in CBCT images (p=0.02).ConclusionFNM, CBM, and CPC are rare anatomical variants of clivus. However, they can facilitate spread of infection to the skull base or vice-versa. These types of anatomical variations should be known by radiologists to avoid unnecessary diagnosis and treatment procedures and to distinguish anatomic variations from pathological conditions.