Correlation between the Petroclival Parameters and the Posterior Fossa Volume in Adults

The posterior fossa volume (PCV) has been implicated in multiple neurosurgical conditions. We present the variability and gender-related differences of the PCV in adults. Also, we describe the correlation between the PCV and the morphometry of the petroclival region. Ninety-two computed tomography scans were selected. Exclusion criteria included patients <18 years of age, radiographic evidence of trauma, neoplasm, infection, or previous surgery. The images were analyzed using OsiriX MD. We measured the posterior fossa volume using a three-dimensional reconstruction. Also, we measured the clival length, clival vertical angle, petroclival angle, the distance between bilateral internal acoustic canal (IAC) and the distance between bilateral jugular foramen (JF). The average age was 50.8 years with 42% females. The mean PCV was 176.5 cm³ (SD ±19.2). The mean clival length, clival angle, and petroclival angle were 44.3 mm, 27.2, and 154.8 degrees, respectively. The mean inter IAC and inter JF distances were 49.8 and 58.5 mm, respectively. Females had a smaller posterior fossa than males (168 vs. 182 cm³, p < 0.05). Correlation analyses showed PCV correlated negatively with the clival angle (rho = −0.2, p < 0.05) and positively with the clival length (rho = 0.3, p < 0.05), petroclival angle (rho = 0.1, p <0.05), and the inter IAC distance (rho = 0.4, p < 0.05; Figs. 1 and 2). The posterior fossa volume is variable among adults and follows a normal distribution. Females has a smaller posterior fossa than males, the volume of the posterior fossa correlates with multiple components of the petroclival region.

Fig. 1

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. Februar 2021