Morphometric Analysis of the Clivus in Human Dry Skulls: A Radioanatomical Study

Abstract

This study aims to reveal morphometric properties of the clivus including length, width and angle to the base of the skull from the perspective of skull base procedures. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four human dry skulls were included in the inventory of Mersin University Medical Faculty Anatomy Department. Direct anatomic measurements (DAM) were performed using digital caliper and digital image analysis software. Radiological analysis was performed using computed tomography (CT). Results: The length and inner surface area of the clivus for DAM and CT were 25.17±3.98/24.83±3.91 mm and 546.51±66.44/523.37±87.48 mm 2 , respectively. Clival angle (Welcher angle) for DAM and CT was 126.12±9.51°/124.37±10.86°. No statistically significant difference was found between the numerical data obtained by DAM and CT (p>0.05). Conclusion: Considering that clivus anomalies are associated with diseases such as platybasia, basilar invagination, CHARGE syndrome or Chiari type I, the data of the present study can be used for the detection of clivus anomalies as well as choosing the type of approach to the skull base.

The Relationship of the Posterior Cranial Fossa with Age and Sex

“…The measurements were performed from digital MRI images in a hospital using caliper function with x2 magnification. Using the midsagittal T2-weighted spin echo image, the following parameters of posterior cranial fossa dimensions were evaluated (Smooker, 1994;Nishikawa et al;Milhorat et al;Karagöz et al, 2002;Aydin et al, 2005;Sekula Jr. et al;Furtado et al, 2009;Dagtekin et al, 2011;Heiss et al, 2012;Hwang et al, 2013;Tastemur et al;Özalp et al, 2019).…”