Cephalometric Analysis of Sella Turcica for Age Determination from Sokoto, Nigeria: A Radiological Study
Z. Usman *
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
G. H. Yunusa
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Bello
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
J. D. Usman
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Aliu
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
S. S. Bello
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
I. M. Ahmad
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. A. Musa
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
T. Ammani
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
G. B. Marwan
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
R. Bello
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. M. Ahmed
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
U. Abubakar
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
B. O. Onimisi
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
H. A. Bunza
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. D. Zagga
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cephalometry deals with the measurement of the head or radiological specimen of the head. Sella turcica is an important anatomical structure located in the middle cranial fossa, housing the pituitary gland. Various shapes and sizes of the sellae turcica have been reported. However, in this study, using computerized tomographic (CT) scans, one hundred and seventy-five (175) scans were analyzed using Radiant version 4.2 for determination of sizes and shapes of the sella. Average dimensions from the study include length (12.4mm), A-P diameter (14.1 m), depth (9.6 mm) and transverse diameter (13.8mm). Shapes were classified as being round (56.6%), oval (32%) and flat (11.4%). Males tend to have higher sella sizes than females and there are statistically significant differences between them especially in respect to A-P diameter and length parameters. Also, there is a statistically significant relationship between age groups in terms of A-P diameter and depth of the sella turcica. However, there is no correlation between age and shapes found in the study.
Keywords: Cephalometric analysis, sella turcica, cranial fossa, hypophyseal fossa.