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The human foramen magnum—normal anatomy of the cisterna magna in adults

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Introduction

The goal of this study was to radiologically describe the anatomical characteristics of the cisterna magna (CM) with regard to presence, dimension, and configuration.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 523 records were reviewed. We defined five CM types, the range of which covered all normal variants found in the study population. Characteristics of the CM were recorded and correlations between various posterior fossa dimensions and CM volume determined.

Results

There were 268 female (mean age 50.9 ± 16.9 years) and 255 male (mean age 54.1 ± 15.8 years) patients. CM volume was smaller in females than in males and correlated with age (Pearson correlation, r = 0.1494, p = 0.0006) and gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.0608, p < 0.0001). Clivus length correlated with CM volume (Pearson correlation, r = 0.211, p < 0.0001) and gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.2428, p < 0.0001). Tentorial angle did not correlate with CM volume (Pearson correlation, r = −0.0609, p < 0.1642) but did correlate with gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.0163, p < 0.0035). The anterior–posterior dimension of cerebrospinal fluid anterior to the brainstem correlated with CM volume (Pearson correlation, r = 0.181, p < 0.0001) and gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.0205, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

The anatomical description and simple classification system we define allows for a more precise description of posterior fossa anatomy and could potentially contribute to the understanding of Chiari malformation anatomy and management.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Shirley McCartney, PhD, for the editorial assistance, Andy Rekito, MS, for creating the original surgical illustrations for the article, and Valerie Anderson, PhD, for the statistical analysis advice.

Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 SW Bond Avenue, CH8N, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Nathaniel Whitney, Hai Sun & Donald A. Ross

  2. Department of Radiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Jeffrey M. Pollock

  3. Portland Veterans Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA

    Donald A. Ross

Authors
  1. Nathaniel Whitney
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  2. Hai Sun
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  3. Jeffrey M. Pollock
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  4. Donald A. Ross
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donald A. Ross.

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Whitney, N., Sun, H., Pollock, J.M. et al. The human foramen magnum—normal anatomy of the cisterna magna in adults. Neuroradiology 55, 1333–1339 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-013-1269-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-013-1269-z

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