Computed Tomography Assessment of Cephalic Index and Sella Turcica Dimensions and Morphology in a Nigerian Population

Abstract

Cephalic index (CI) is the percentage of biparietal diameter to the occipitofrontal diameter of the skull and can be used in forensic investigations in cases of disputed identity where only fragments of the head/skull are available. The sella turcica houses the pituitary gland whose hormones regulate the functions of many other glands and systems of the body. Abnormal sizes of sella turcica could indicate sella/pituitary pathology with health implications. This study aimed to assess CI, head shapes and sella turcica dimensions and morphology of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria. The objectives are: to relate CI and head shapes with sella turcica dimensions and morphology, to use CI and head shape to identify and distinguish the Yoruba tribe from other tribes, to use CI and head shape to distinguish between genders. Skull/head and sella turcica dimensions were measured on 321 retrospectively enlisted normal cranial Computed Tomography (CT) images of Yoruba subjects, mean age 55 (SD ± 17) years, in a Tertiary Hospital in South-West Nigeria between January 2020 and April 2021, and then CI calculated. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 27(IBM Corp. Armonk, NY, USA, 2019). Predominant head shape of the studied group was dolichocephalic. Mean CI was 70.0 ± 3.7 and showed no statistically significant difference between gender (P = 0.097). Mean sella length, depth; and anteroposterior diameter was 1.22 ± 0.24 cm, 0.80 ± 0.15 cm, 1.34 ± 0.25 cm respectively. Mean sella length and depth showed significant difference between gender (P = 0.0001; P = 0.032) respectively. Head shape has no association with sella dimensions and morphology. Head shape and CI may stratify populations in forensic practice and surgical planning.