Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: January | Volume: 9 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 53-58
Investigating the Various Shapes of Sella Turcica in Nigerian Children Using Lateral Skull Radiographs
Bello A., Usman J.D.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Bello A
ABSTRACT
The knowledge of the normal radiographic anatomy of the sella turcica and sella point is of great importance to clinicians in enabling them quickly recognize, investigate or evaluate any deviation from normal as well as any pathological situation related to the pituitary gland. This study investigated the various shapes of the sella turcica in children. A total of 250 lateral skull radiographs taken in the Department of Radiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto from January 2013 to December 2014 were retrieved for the purpose of this study. Radiographs were mounted on the viewing box and variants of the anatomical shapes of the sella turcica were studied and classified. Of the 162 radiographs used in this study, 114 (70.4%) sella turcica were round shaped while 48 (29.6%) oval in shaped. This observed difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Meanwhile, the floor of the sella turcica of the study participants showed a concave outline in 130 (80%) of the children and flat outline in 32 (20%) of the children. Sexual dimorphism was seen in this study with respect to shape of sella turcica. Round shaped sella turcica was predominant in Nigerian children used in this study. The prevalence and the relative frequencies of the normal variants of the anatomical shapes of the sella turcica of male Nigerian children differ significantly from those of their female counterparts. The morphology and size of sella turcica is of importance because within its center lies sella point which helps in evaluation of craniofacial morphology, orthodontic treatments as well as growth changes.
Key words: Sella turcica, shapes, radiographs, children, Nigeria.