title: High-resolution CT findings in the development of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Dentistry, Niigata University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokiguchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furusawa
mesh_terms: 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