Morphometric Analysis of the Clivus in Human Dry Skulls: A Radioanatomical Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to reveal morphometric properties of the clivus including length, width and angle to the base of the skull from the perspective of skull base procedures. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four human dry skulls were included in the inventory of Mersin University Medical Faculty Anatomy Department. Direct anatomic measurements (DAM) were performed using digital caliper and digital image analysis software. Radiological analysis was performed using computed tomography (CT). Results: The length and inner surface area of the clivus for DAM and CT were 25.17±3.98/24.83±3.91 mm and 546.51±66.44/523.37±87.48 mm2, respectively. Clival angle (Welcher angle) for DAM and CT was 126.12±9.51°/124.37±10.86°. No statistically significant difference was found between the numerical data obtained by DAM and CT (p>0.05). Conclusion: Considering that clivus anomalies are associated with diseases such as platybasia, basilar invagination, CHARGE syndrome or Chiari type I, the data of the present study can be used for the detection of clivus anomalies as well as choosing the type of approach to the skull base.

Keywords

• Clivus
• CHARGE
• Chiari I
• Platybasia

İnsan Kuru Kafalarında Klivus’un Morfometrik Analizi: Radyoanatomik Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, klivus’un uzunluk, genişlik ve kafa tabanı ile açılanması gibi morfometrik özelliklerini, kafa tabanı cerrahisi açısından açığa çıkarmayı amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya, Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Anatomi Anabilim Dalı envanterinde bulunan 24 insan kuru kafatası dahil edildi. Direkt anatomik ölçümler (DAÖ) dijital kumpas ve dijital görüntü analiz programı ile yapıldı. Bilgisayarlı tomografi (BT) kullanılarak radyolojik analizler gerçekleştirildi. Bulgular: DAÖ ve BT için klivus’un uzunluk ve iç yüzey alanı sırasıyla 25,17±3,98/24,83±3,91 mm ve 546,51±66,44/523,37±87,48 mm2 olarak bulundu. DAÖ ve BT için klival açının (Welcher açısı) 126,12±9,51°/124,37±10,86° olduğu görüldü. DAÖ ve BT ile elde edilen sayısal veriler arasında istatistiksel olarak farklılık olmadığı belirlendi (p>0,05). Sonuç: Klivus anomalilerinin platibazi, basilar invajinasyon, Charge sendromu veya Chiari tip I gibi hastalıklar ile ilişkilendirildiği dikkate alındığında, verilerimizin klivus bağlamında kafa tabanı malformasyonlarının tespiti ve bu bölgeye cerrahi yaklaşımların seçiminde kullanılabileceği düşüncesindeyiz.

Keywords

• Klivus
• CHARGE
• Chiari I
• Platibazi

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