Pediatric Anatomy of the Anterior Clinoid Process on Computed Tomography Images

Abstract

Objective To show the change in the anterior clinoid process (ACP) morphology in children with advancing age.

Methods Radiologic images of 180 subjects aged 1 to 18 years were included in the work. The length (ACPL), width (ACPW), and angle (ACPA) of ACP, and the distance (DisACPOS) of ACP to the optic strut (OS) were measured. ACP pneumatization and OS location types were noted.

Results ACPL, ACPW, and ACPA, and DisACPOS were measured as 12.34 ± 2.29 mm, 4.52 ± 1.03 mm, 26.26 ± 4.30°, and 5.10 ± 1.12 mm, respectively. ACP pneumatization was identified in 30 (8.3%) sides. Four types regarding its pneumatization were observed: Type 0 in 91.7% out of 360 sides, Type 1 in 2.5%, Type 2 in 3.6%, and Type 3 in 2.2%. Three configurations regarding OS location types were observed as follows: Type C in 3.6% out of 360 sides, Type D in 51.7%, and Type E in 44.7%. Linear function was calculated as y = 9.377 + 0.312 × age for ACPL, y = 3.716 + 0.084 × age for ACPW, and y = 3.808 + 0.136 × age for DisACPOS.

Conclusion ACPL, ACPW, and DisACPOS increased, but ACPA did not vary with advancing ages in children. OS was located more posteriorly in children compared with adults. Most of ACP pneumatization was seen after prepubescent period.

Keywords

anterior clinoid process - pneumatization - children - computed tomography - optic strut

Ethical Approval

This retrospective CT investigation and study was approved by Institution's Clinical Research Ethics Committee (no.: 2024/48, date: March 27, 2024).

Informed Consent

The need for informed consent from the patient was waived by the Institutional Review Board because of the retrospective nature of the study.

Author Contributions

E.Ö.Y. and O.B. conceived and designed the study. E.Ö.Y., R.Ç., and E.Ö. collected and analyzed the radiological data. B.C.A. and O.B. interpreted the results and contributed to the drafting of the manuscript. E.Ö.Y. and O.B. contributed equally to writing the main manuscript text. All authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

Available from the authors on request.

Publication History

Received: 10 October 2024

Accepted: 04 November 2024

Article published online:
26 November 2024

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