Morphometric analysis of sella turcica in growing patients: an observational study on shape and dimensions in different sagittal craniofacial patterns

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in sella dimensions and shape between growing patients with Class I, Class II, and Class III skeletal malocclusions, evaluated through morphometric analysis. Seventy-eight subjects aged between 9 and 13 years were selected and assigned to either the Class I, Class II, or Class III groups according to the measured ANB angle (the angle between the Nasion, skeletal A-point and skeletal B-point). Six landmarks were digitised to outline the shape of the sella turcica. Linear measurements of the sella length and depth were also performed. Procrustes superimposition, principal component analysis, and canonical variate analysis were used to evaluate the differences in sella shape between the three groups. A one-way MANOVA and Tukey’s or Games-Howell tests were used to evaluate the presence of differences in sella dimensions between the three groups, gender, and age. The canonical variate analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in sella shape between the Class I and the Class II groups, mostly explained by the CV1 axis and related to the posterior clinoidal process and the floor of the sella. No differences were found regarding linear measurements, except between subjects with different age. These differences in sella shape, that are present in the earlier developmental stages, could be used as a predictor of facial growth, but further studies are needed.

Comparison of mandibular cross-sectional morphology between Class I and Class II subjects with different vertical patterns: based on CBCT images and statistical shape analysis

“…CVA was conducted at symphysis and molar region among different sagittal groups and DFA was conducted between Class I and Class II patients. Procrustes distance and Mahalanobis distance were calculated while P values were calculated from permutation tests and 10,000 and 1000 permutation rounds were carried out for CVA and DFA, respectively [ 25 ]. All measurements were listed in Table 3 .…”

Changes in the Shape of Craniofacial Skeleton in Children Prenatally Exposed To Anticonvulsant Drugs: a Geometric Morphometric Study

“…Tepedino et al 27 carried out morphometric analysis of sella turcica in patients with different sagittal malocclusions (Class I, II, III) and pointed out that anomalies of the anterior wall of the sella appear to be associated with alterations of the frontonasal area and defects of body axis, while anomalies of posterior wall seem to be related to brain alterations.…”

Relationship between Skeletal Class II Malocclusion and Morphology of Sella Turcica in Children Aged 7-10 Years

“…Normal sella turcica morphology is the dominant form. [18] Prenatally, the sella turcica morphology is formed from cartilage, which develops from neural crest cells. It determines the morphology seen postnatally.…”

“…This area is embryologically derived from the neural crest, similar to the frontomaxillary complex which this area is strongly connected to and integrated with. [18] Changes that occur in the shape of the sella turcica during growth occur because bone deposition on the anterior part of the interior surface of the sella turcica stops at an early age, whereas resorption in the distal part of the sella floor and the posterior wall continues for a longer period of time. The bone deposition is seen in the tuberculum sellae and resorption at the posterior border of the sella turcica until the age of 16-18 years.…”