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High-resolution CT findings in the development of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis
K Okamoto1, J Ito, S Tokiguchi
1Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Niigata University, Japan.
Purpose:
To evaluate the development of the sphenooccipital sychondrosis as seen on high-resolution thin-section CT scans.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the records of 253 patients, ages 1 to 77 years old, who had had thin-section CT examination of the skull base.
Results:
An ossification center appeared midline in the patients who were 8 to 13 years old. Six of 12 girls showed additional symmetric ossification centers on either side of the midline; however, this pattern was not seen in boys. No sphenooccipital synchondrosis persisted in any patient past the age of 13 years.
Conclusion:
High-resolution CT scans of the skull base can show a pattern of progressive ossification of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis, which can be readily recognized and predicted.