Calcification of the interclinoid and petroclinoid ligaments of sella turcica: a radiographic study of the prevalence.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of calcifications of the sella turcica, in particular, calcification of the interclinoid and petroclinoid ligaments (PCL).


METHODS
Radiographic analysis of preoperative cephalometric film images.


METHODS
Lateral cephlometric radiographs of 255 subjects presenting for orthodontic evaluation were reviewed. The number of subjects selected for this study was determined by power analysis.


METHODS
Two calibrated raters reviewed cephalometric projections and scored the films using a standardized rating scale.


METHODS
The rating scale classified interclinoid ligaments (ICL) into one of four categories depending on the degree of calcification and PCLs as either, no calcification, partial or complete calcification.


RESULTS
Of all subjects, calcification of the ICL ranged from 39% rated as more than half calcified to 8% completely calcified. Petroclinoid analysis revealed 67% with no calcification, 23% with partial calcification and 9% completely calcified. Spearman's correlations were computed between age and the degree of calcification and between the degree of calcification for these two ligaments with a significant association between age and degree of calcification in the PCL, r = 0.185 (p = 0.003) and a significant association between the degree of calcification in the petroclinoid and ICLs, r = 0.186 (p = 0.003). In addition, chi-squared tests demonstrated statistically significant associations between the presence of calcification in the PCL to the distribution of age (p = 0.041) and between the presence of calcification in the ICL to the distribution of age (p = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
As calcification of these ligaments has suggestive associations with disease entities, their recognition as a variant of normal anatomy should be evaluated when assessing cephalometric radiographs.
Cederberg
R A
RA
Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M University System Health Science Center, Dallas, TX 75266-0677, USA. Rcederberg@tambcd.edu
Benson
B W
BW
Nunn
M
M
English
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002508:Cephalometry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011859:Radiography; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric