title: Fossa navicularis magna detection on cone-beam computed tomography.
abstract: Herein, we report and discuss the detection of fossa navicularis magna, a close radiographic anatomic variant of canalis basilaris medianus of the basiocciput, as an incidental finding in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. The CBCT data of the patients in question were referred for the evaluation of implant sites and to rule out pathology in the maxilla and mandible. CBCT analysis showed osseous, notch-like defects on the inferior aspect of the clivus in all four cases. The appearance of fossa navicularis magna varied among the cases. In some, it was completely within the basiocciput and mimicked a small rounded, corticated, lytic defect, whereas it appeared as a notch in others. Fossa navicularis magna is an anatomical variant that occurs on the inferior aspect of the clivus. The pertinent literature on the anatomical variations occurring in this region was reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Ali Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Mel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mupparapu
keywords: Clivus Fossa, Posterior; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Multidetector Computed Tomography; Skull Base