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Prevalence of anatomical variants in the clivus: fossa navicularis magna, canalis basilaris medianus, and craniopharyngeal canal

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Abstract

Purpose

This study determined the prevalence of fossa navicularis magna (FNM), canalis basilaris medianus (CBM), and craniopharyngeal canal (CPC), the size of FNMs, and types of CBM using 3D computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods

A total of 1059 3D images [649 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 410 CT] were evaluated in this study. The prevalence of FNM, CBM, and CPC, length, width, and depth of FNM, and type of CBM were assessed.

Results

Overall, FNM was identified in 7.6%, CPC in 0.3%, and CBM in 2.5% of the study group. Type 2 (0.1%) and Type 6 (0.1%) are the least common CBM types. There was no significant difference between genders for depth and width measurements (p > 0.05), however, the length of FNM was significantly higher in males than females in CBCT images (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

FNM, CBM, and CPC are rare anatomical variants of clivus. However, they can facilitate spread of infection to the skull base or vice-versa. These types of anatomical variations should be known by radiologists to avoid unnecessary diagnosis and treatment procedures and to distinguish anatomic variations from pathological conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Dentistry Faculty, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Gölköy, 14000, Bolu, Turkey

    Seval Bayrak & Duygu Göller Bulut

  2. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology Department, Dentistry Faculty, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Kaan Orhan

  3. OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven and Oral &Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Kaan Orhan

Authors
  1. Seval Bayrak
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  2. Duygu Göller Bulut
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  3. Kaan Orhan
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Contributions

Protocol Development: KO. Data Collection-Analysis: SB, KO. Manuscript Writing: DGB, SB. Manuscript Editing: KO.

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Correspondence to Seval Bayrak.

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Bayrak, S., Göller Bulut, D. & Orhan, K. Prevalence of anatomical variants in the clivus: fossa navicularis magna, canalis basilaris medianus, and craniopharyngeal canal. Surg Radiol Anat 41, 477–483 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02200-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02200-3

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