Normal computed tomography anatomy of the suprasellar subarachnoid space

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Neuroimaging
• Anatomy

Background:

• The suprasellar cistern is a critical neuroanatomical region.
• Accurate interpretation of CT scans in this area is essential for diagnosing pathologies.
• Normal anatomical variations can mimic pathological findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the normal anatomical variants of the suprasellar subarachnoid space on CT scans.
• To provide a basis for differentiating normal variants from suprasellar mass lesions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 680 computed tomography (CT) scans.
• Classification of suprasellar cistern configurations.
• Assessment of visualization adequacy.

Main Results:

• Identified three main configurations of the suprasellar cistern: large hexagon (60.7%), small hexagon (17.6%), and small tetragon (21.7%).
• Approximately one-third of scans had insufficient visualization of the region of interest.
• Significant variability in CT appearance was noted, attributed to anatomical and technical factors.

Conclusions:

• Normal suprasellar subarachnoid space exhibits diverse configurations on CT.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for excluding suprasellar mass lesions.
• Additional imaging techniques like intermediate cuts, contrast enhancement, and lateral skull radiography aid in diagnosis.