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Postnatal development of the central skull base: normal variants
1Department of Radiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1022, USA.
Insights
This study identifies 16 normal skull base variants in children using computed tomography (CT) scans. Recognizing these common findings is crucial for diagnosing skull base developmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
- Skull Base Anatomy
Background:
- The skull base is a complex region with intricate development.
- Understanding normal variations is essential for accurate diagnosis of congenital anomalies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate normal variants and developmental anomalies of the skull base.
- To characterize normal developmental variants in the sphenoid and occipital bones on CT scans.
Main Methods:
- Computed tomography (CT) scans of 189 children (0-18 years) without skull base deformity were analyzed.
- Normal developmental variants in the sphenoid and occipital bones were identified and characterized.
Main Results:
- Sixteen normal variants of central skull base development were identified.
- These variants include specific findings in the sphenoid and occipital bones, such as foramina, remnants, defects, clefts, and fusion variants.
Conclusions:
- The identified variants correlate with the embryologic development of the skull base.
- Recognizing these variants is necessary for evaluating pediatric skeletal dysplasias and skull base disorders.
Purpose:
To illustrate the normal variants and developmental anomalies of the skull base on computed tomographic (CT) scans.
Materials And Methods:
One hundred eighty-nine children (age range, newborn to 18 years; median age, 4.0 years) without skull base deformity were referred for cranial CT. Normal developmental variants in the sphenoid and occipital bones were characterized.
Results:
Sixteen normal variants of central skull base development were identified including anterior foramen in the presphenoid, remnant of the craniopharyngeal canal in the anterior portion of the postsphenoid, rounded defects in the central sphenoid, clefts and fissures along the basiocciput and basisphenoid, basioticum variants, notochordal remnant in the midline of the basiocciput, and fusion variants of the Kerckring ossicle with the supraoccipital portion of the occipital bone.
Conclusion:
The location and CT appearance of the 16 variants and anomalies are related to the known embryologic origin of this region. Recognition of such variants may prove necessary in evaluation of patients with skeletal dysplasias and disorders of skull base development.