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Anatomic features of the cranial aperture of the optic canal in children: a radiologic study

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to peruse anatomic features of the cranial aperture of the optic canal (CAOC) for obtaining an extended morphometric dataset in children.

Methods

Computed tomography images of 200 children were included in this retrospective work to analyze the shape, location and diameters of the CAOC.

Results

The CAOC area, width and height were observed as 17.53 ± 2.80 mm2, 6.12 ± 0.84 mm, and 4.35 ± 0.64 mm, respectively. The angle of the optic canal in axial plane was found as 39.28 ± 5.13°, while in sagittal plane as 16.01 ± 6.76°. The distance between the CAOC and the midsagittal line was 7.17 ± 1.48 mm. The CAOC was measured as 54.04 ± 5.23 mm and 42.55 ± 3.28 mm away from the anterior and lateral boundary of the anterior skull base, respectively. The CAOC shape was described as the tear-drop (186 foramina, 46.5%), triangular (156 foramina, 39%), oval (47 foramina, 11.8%), and round (11 foramina, 2.8%).

Conclusion

The depth, angle and diameter measurements belonging to the CAOC were changing according to its shape or demographic data (e.g., sex and age). Therefore, preoperative radiologic evaluation containing the shape, location and size of the CAOC should be considered by multidisciplinary operating teams in terms of surgical interventions such as implant positioning.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Ciftlikkoy Campus, 33343, Mersin, Turkey

    Barış Ten, Kaan Esen & Engin Kara

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Orhan Beger & Saliha Seda Adanır

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Mersin City Hospital, Mersin, Turkey

    Ebru Cömert Hamzaoğlu

  4. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Niğde, Turkey

    Fatih Çiçek

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

    Pourya Taghipour

  6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

    Yusuf Vayisoğlu & Derya Ümit Talas

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  1. Barış Ten
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  2. Orhan Beger
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  3. Kaan Esen
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  4. Saliha Seda Adanır
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  5. Ebru Cömert Hamzaoğlu
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  6. Fatih Çiçek
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  8. Engin Kara
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  9. Yusuf Vayisoğlu
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Contributions

BT, OB, KE, EK, DÜT: Project development, Data collection, Data analysis, Manuscript writing, Manuscript editing. SSA, ECH, FÇ, PT, YV: Data analysis, Manuscript editing.

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Correspondence to Barış Ten.

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Ten, B., Beger, O., Esen, K. et al. Anatomic features of the cranial aperture of the optic canal in children: a radiologic study. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 187–199 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02604-6

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