Measurement of cross-sectional dimensions of the cricoid cartilage: a computed tomographic study.
OBJECTIVE
We measured the cross-sectional dimensions of the cricoid cartilage and degrees of ossification of the marrow space for designing a cricoid implant.


METHODS
We reviewed 100 age- and sex-matched neck computed tomography scans that were performed at Seoul National University Hospital from 2001 to 2005. Under a standardized computed tomography window setting, the height of the cricoid cartilage marrow and the thickness of the marrow space and the ossified inner and outer cortices were measured by one observer.


RESULTS
The mean height of the cricoid cartilage marrow was 13.6 mm (range, 5.5 to 20.5 mm) in women and 17.5 mm (range, 13.0 to 24.5 mm) in men. The mean thickness of the cricoid cartilage marrow was 3.17 mm (range, 1.22 to 4.75 mm) in women and 5.13 mm (range, 3.42 to 7.60 mm) in men. We also observed that women in general have a higher density of the cricoid marrow than men; 4 women and 1 man had a markedly denser marrow space. There were individual variations in size and density of the cricoid marrow.


CONCLUSIONS
Human adult cricoid cartilages have sufficient marrow space for cricoid implantation. Preoperative evaluation of the size and density of the cricoid marrow is recommended for individual application of the cricoid implant.
Shin
Hyun-Woo
HW
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ahn
Youngjin
Y
Sung
Myung-Whun
MW
Kim
Kwang Hyun
KH
Kwon
Tack-Kyun
TK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed