Measurement of Normal Size and Shape of Sella Turcica in Adult Sudanese Population using Computed Tomography

Abstract

One of the most commonly used cranial landmarks for cephalometric tracing is sella point. The morphology and size of sella turcica is of importance because within its center lies sella point which helps in evaluation of craniofacial morphology. The study was conducted at ALmodares Hopspital in Khartoum, during the period from April 2016 up to June2016. The main objective of the study was to measure the size and shape of sella turcica in adult Sudanese population. Data included 50 adult patients (25 male, 25female), their ages ranged between (18-60) with normal sella turcica. The data were collected only from the midsaggital plane, and three distances were measured: The length of sella turcica was measured as the distance from the tuberculum sella to the tip of the dorsum sellae, The depth of the sella turcica was measured perpendicularly from the line above to the deepest point on the floor, also a line from the tuberculum sella to the furthest point on the posterior inner wall of the fossa was drawn. This was considered as the antero-posterior diameter of sella turcica. The study has come out with certain results including: No significant difference in shape of the sella turcica could be found between males and females. There was a significant difference in the size of sella turcica in older and younger age groups in all three-dimensions, and the size was larger in older subjects. There was significant difference in depth of sella turcica between males and females. Shape of sella turcica was normal in 64.7% of the subjects. The results of the present study of sella shape and size may be used as reference guide for future studies about sella turcica morphology. The study proposed some recommendations which could be useful in this field.