High-resolution CT findings in the development of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the development of the sphenooccipital sychondrosis as seen on high-resolution thin-section CT scans.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records of 253 patients, ages 1 to 77 years old, who had had thin-section CT examination of the skull base.


RESULTS
An ossification center appeared midline in the patients who were 8 to 13 years old. Six of 12 girls showed additional symmetric ossification centers on either side of the midline; however, this pattern was not seen in boys. No sphenooccipital synchondrosis persisted in any patient past the age of 13 years.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution CT scans of the skull base can show a pattern of progressive ossification of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis, which can be readily recognized and predicted.
Okamoto
K
K
Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Niigata University, Japan.
Ito
J
J
Tokiguchi
S
S
Furusawa
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002356:Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed