Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: September | Volume: 11 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 270-276
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20210941
Sella Turcica Dimensions and Morphology in a Yoruba Ethnic Population: A Computed Tomography Study
Okon Etim Bassey1, Hyacienth Uche Chiegwu1, Chistopher Chukwuemeka Ohagwu1, Michael Promise Ogolodom1, Daniel Chimuanya Ugwuanyi1, Michael Sunday Okpaleke1, Awajimijan Nathaniel Mbaba2
1Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
2Radiology Department, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Michael Promise Ogolodom
ABSTRACT
Background: Several sellar and parasellar pathologies affect the size and shape of sella turcica. A deviation from normal dimensions of sella turcica could be an indication of a pathological condition of the structure itself or the pituitary gland.
Aim: This study was designed to assess the dimensions and morphology of the sella turcica of Yoruba ethnic population using cranial computed tomography (CT) images.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 321 cranial CT images of the Yoruba subjects acquired in a tertiary health institution between January 2020 and April 2021. The sella turcica length, depth and anteroposterior diameter were measured using the digital calipers of the CT system while sella morphological shape was determined qualitatively by observing the floor of sella in the midsagittal slice and quantitatively by taking the ratio of superoinferior diameter to the transverse diameter.
Result: In general, the mean and standard deviation value of sella turcica length was 12.2±`2.35mm. The mean sella length for males was 12.62`±2.50 and that for females was 11.69 ±`2.04mm. The result showed that males’ sella length differed significantly from that of females (t=3.635, p=0.000). A significant difference was noted between the sella depths of the two genders (p=0.032). The total mean anteroposterior diameter (APD) of sella turcica was 13.4`± 2.47mm. Male and female mean diameters were 13.6`± 2.45mm and 13.3±`2.17mm respectively. No significant difference was noted in sella length and APD across the age categories but sella depth showed a significant difference, which was noted to only exist between early adulthood (≤34 years) and late adulthood (≥65) (p=0.027). No statistically significant association was noted between sella shape and gender (c2=3.124, p=0.210) as well as age (c2=9.336, p=0.156).
Conclusion: Only the mean sella length and depth differ significantly between male and female genders. Anteroposterior diameter is the same irrespective of gender. The sella turcica dimensions obtained from this study will serve as reference values for physicians in the assessment of sellar and parasellar pathologies in the study population.
Key words: Computed tomography, sella turcica, morphology.