Sella size and jaw bases - Is there a correlation???

Area of Science:

• Cephalometric analysis
• Orthodontics
• Craniometry

Background:

• Sella turcica is a critical cephalometric landmark.
• Previous research explored sella dimensions in relation to malocclusion.
• No studies have directly compared sella size with jaw bases determining malocclusion types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between sella turcica dimensions and jaw base sizes.
• To determine if sella size differs significantly across different malocclusion classes (I, II, III).
• To identify potential relationships between specific jaw structures and sella morphology.

Main Methods:

• Lateral cephalograms of 110 adult patients (40 Class I, 40 Class II, 30 Class III) were analyzed.
• Measurements included sella length, width, height, and area, along with maxillary length, mandibular ramus height, and body length.
• Statistical analysis involved one-way ANOVA for comparing sella dimensions across malocclusion types and Pearson correlation for assessing relationships between jaw and sella sizes.

Main Results:

• Mean sella length, width, and area were largest in Class III, followed by Class I, and smallest in Class II, though not statistically significant.
• Three out of four sella dimensions significantly correlated with mandibular ramus and body length.
• Only one sella dimension showed a significant correlation with maxillary length.

Conclusions:

• The mandible demonstrates a definite and stronger correlation with sella turcica size compared to the maxilla.
• Consistent ratios were observed between mandibular ramus/body length and sella area across all malocclusion types.
• These findings suggest a potential link between mandibular development and sella turcica morphology.