Fluid-Filled Dehiscences in the Anterior Cranial Fossa Floor: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo date, only limited information regarding the anterior cranial fossa floor (AFF) and the appearance of sites of dehiscence and potential channels has been available. We aimed to evaluate this region with thin section magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Patients and MethodsA total of 65 patients underwent thin-sliced coronal T2-weighted MRI. The AFF was divided into 3 parts for analysis: the anterior, middle, and posterior.ResultsDehiscences were identified in 84.6% of 65 patients with apparently transmitting channels. In 49.2% of the patients, the dehiscences were located in the anterior part, whereas they were located in the middle and posterior parts in 52.3% and 12.3%, respectively. The morphology and number of these dehiscences were highly variable. In 12.3%, channels in the dehiscences were distributed extradural. Statistically, dehiscences were more frequently identified on the left side in any part of the AFF.ConclusionsWith thin-sliced, coronal T2-weighted MRI, dehiscences were frequently identified in the anterior two-thirds of the AFF. Further study is warranted to determine the role of AFF channels and dehiscences, including possibly for cerebrospinal fluid drainage.