title: The Anterolateral Limit of the Occipital Lobe: An Anatomical and Imaging Study.
abstract: ObjectivesThe boundaries of the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe, and the anterior portion of the occipital lobe (OL) are poorly defined. Lesions in these areas can be difficult to localize. Therefore, we studied the anterolateral limit of the OL to identify reliable anatomical landmarks.DesignIn 10 formalin-fixed cadaveric heads, the boundaries of the OL and relative anatomical landmarks were studied.Main Outcome MeasuresDistances between the following structures were measured: (1) preoccipital tentorial plica (POTP) to the junction between lambdoid suture and superior border of the transverse sinus (POTP-SL), (2) POTP to the sinodural angle of Citelli (POTP-PP), (3) lambda to parietooccipital sulcus (L-POS), and (4) preoccipital notch to termination of the vein of Labbé (PON-VL). Landmarks in 559 computed tomography and magnetic resonance images were also studied.ResultsThe POTP was found on the tentorium of all anatomical specimens, located at the same coronal level as the PON and its attachment to the bony protuberance (BP) at the lateral cranial wall. The mean distances were POTP-SL, 6.5 ± 6.4 mm; POTP-PP, 18.1 ± 7.8 mm; L-POS, 10.8 ± 5.0 mm; and PON-VL, 8.8 ± 10.1 mm.ConclusionOsseous (asterion, lambda, and BP), dural (POTP), and vascular (VL) landmarks can be used as reference structures to identify the anterolateral limit of the OL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Cassius Vinicius C
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yagmurlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elhadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dru
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sebastião N S
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gusmão
authors.affiliation: Hospital Mater Dei, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Uédson
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tazinaffo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zabramski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Spetzler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Preul
keywords: CT; MRI; anatomy; occipital lobe; vein of Labbé