title: Quantification of cranial base growth during pubertal growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify longitudinal cranial base growth from prepubertal through postpubertal stages of development, as defined by biological indicators of individual skeletal maturity (cervical vertebral maturation - CVM) method and to determine if there is sexual dimorphism resulting from cranial base growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal cephalometric study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Dental School of Paulista University, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  36 subjects (21 females, 15 males) who were part of a longitudinal growth study and exhibited normal facial and normal vertical growth patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Growth maturation of cervical vertebrae stages was assessed by two examiners independently. Cranial base measurements were carried out by one individual and repeated after one month. The growth increments over time were assessed with the one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey multiple comparisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant gender differences. There was a significant increase in all cephalometric measures between the different time points. Ba-Na showed the greatest amount of growth (mean change=2.8 mm). From T2-T3, the greatest amount of growth was found for Se-Na (mean change=3.4 mm) and the lowest for CC-Na (mean change=1.4 mm). Comparing overall changes (T1-T3) all the measurements showed statistically significantly increases (P<0.05). For all comparisons of between-stage changes the cranial base grew more than 2.0 mm during the pubertal growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Linear variables of cranial base showed significant growth during pubertal stages (pre-peak, peak and post-peak). No significant differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics School of Dentistry University Paulista, UNIP, Sao Paulo, Brazil. lucianabrao@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Luciana Abrão
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: Cristina F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ortolani
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faltin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000254:growth & development; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000254:growth & development; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D002680:Chin / Q000254:growth & development; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000254:growth & development; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000254:growth & development; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000254:growth & development; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D019291:Skull Base / Q000254:growth & development*