title: Incidence of metopism in the Lebanese population.
abstract: This study was carried out on 968 skull X-rays to determine the incidence of the metopic suture in the Lebanese population. Complete and incomplete metopism was present in 0.82% and 0.93% of cases, respectively, leading to an overall incidence of 1.75%. In both categories, the incidence was relatively higher in males (1.84%) than in females (1.62%). Persons living in rural areas had a higher incidence of complete and incomplete metopism compared to persons living in urban areas, with ratios of 4:1 and 4:2, respectively. Other findings included an absence of frontal sinuses in all but one skull with complete metopism, accessory ossicles in the majority of cases of complete metopism (7/8), and hydrocephalus in one case. Medical records did not reveal any other associated diseases or abnormalities. Despite the low incidence of metopic suture in the Lebanese population, in X-ray diagnosis of fractures of the frontal bone, metopic suture must not be ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P J J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Baaten
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abi-Nader
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abi-Ghosn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Kutoubi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jurjus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography