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Skull base growth in childhood
S Sgouros1, K Natarajan, A D Hockley
1Department of Craniofacial Surgery, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK. S.Sgouros@bham.ac.uk
Insights
This study quantifies normal skull base growth in children using 3D imaging, revealing distinct growth patterns before and after age five, with sex-based differences in skull base development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Craniofacial Anatomy
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Lack of quantitative 3D reference data for normal pediatric skull base growth.
- Craniosynostosis studies highlight the need for normative growth parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify three-dimensional (3D) skull base parameters in normal children.
- To identify age-related and sex-related patterns of skull base growth.
Main Methods:
- 3D visualization techniques applied to MRI scans of 66 normal children (1 month to 15 years).
- Measurement of distances and angles between 34 skull base landmarks.
- Analysis of growth patterns in anterior, middle, and posterior fossae.
Main Results:
- Two primary growth periods identified: before and after 5 years of age, with most change in the first period.
- Sex-specific growth patterns observed: males show anterior fossa projection, females exhibit more concentric growth.
- Middle and posterior fossae show rapid growth, particularly in females.
Conclusions:
- Establishes normative 3D skull base growth data for pediatric populations.
- Provides insights into sex dimorphism in skull base development.
- Offers a reference for comparative studies of craniofacial deformities affecting skull base growth.
Abstract:
While studying skull base changes in craniosynostosis, it became apparent that there is a lack of reference studies quantifying the changes of three-dimensional (3D) parameters of the normal skull base throughout childhood. Using advanced 3D visualisation techniques, 34 points of the skull base were identified on MRI scans of 66 normal children, aged 1 month to 15 years. Several distances and angles between the various landmarks were measured in an attempt to quantify the growth of skull fossae with age. Two main growth periods were observed: before and after the first 5 years of life. Most change occurred in the first period. Anatomical regional differences were identified between the two sexes. During the first 5 years of life, the anterior fossa showed rapid growth rate with respect to its anterior projection in males, whereas in the females there was a more concentric growth pattern. The body of the sphenoid bone and the middle fossa showed a rapid growth rate in both sexes which was greater in the females. The posterior fossa showed a concentric pattern of growth in both sexes with a greater growth rate in the females. These findings provide new insight into the pattern of growth of the various parts of the skull base and can be used for comparative study of deformities that affect such growth.