Postnatal development of the subarcuate fossa and subarcuate canaliculus\u2014a computed tomographic study

Mateusz Maślanka,Bogdan Ciszek,Tymon Skadorwa

doi:10.1007/s00276-018-2045-x

Mateusz Maślanka, Bogdan Ciszek + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2045-x

Copy DOI

Abstract

PurposeThe subarcuate fossa (SF) is an anatomical structure situated on posterior wall of the petrous part of the temporal bone. In older children and adults, SF is a shallow depression and the subarcuate canaliculus starts within it. Awareness of postnatal changing morphology of this region is important especially for otosurgeon. The aim of this paper is to characterize both SF and SC by means of anatomical and radiological methods.MethodsThe study was carried out on CT scans of 101 children, aged 1–60 months. Length of the pyramid (PL), the distance between the anterior semicircular canal (ASC) and the pyramidal apex (PLM), the outer diameter of ASC (ASCD), width under ASC (SFWM), the distance between the fundus of SF and ASC (SFLL), the maximal width of SF lateral to ASC (SFWL), the distance between the fundus of SF and posterior surface of the pyramid (SFL) were measured.ResultsAverage value of all measured distances: PL 52.14 ± 6.32 mm and PLM 25.73 ± 3.47 mm (raised with age); ASCD 8.63 ± 0.67 mm; SFWM 0.95 ± 1.24 mm; SFLL 1.07 ± 1.63 mm; SFWL 0.76 ± 1.19 mm; SFL 3.60 ± 2.50 mm.ConclusionsPetrous part of the temporal bone grows with age up to 5 years old, whereas ASC does not. SF diminishes with age: lateral to ASC is well developed in newborns and infants (up to first year), rapidly diminishes in children aged 1–2 years and is totally absent in children > 2 years. SF medial to ASC is constant and diminishes with age. In children older than 3 years morphology of SF is similar to adult.

Highlights

The subarcuate fossa (SF) in adults is a shallow depression on the posterior surface of petrous part of the temporal bone
Obtained data showed that both PL and PLM constantly increase with age (Fig. 4a)
The ASCD showed no correlation with age; its value was more constant throughout age groups and ranged from 6.7 to 10.5 mm (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The subarcuate fossa (SF) in adults is a shallow depression on the posterior surface of petrous part of the temporal bone. In greater apes, living mostly on the ground (gorilla, The bottom of SF usually gives an origin to the subarcuate canaliculus (SC), known as petromastoid canal or antrocerebellar canal of Chatellier [9]. It connects the posterior cranial fossa with periantral mastoid cells. Both SF and SC house the dura mater and subarcuate blood vessels that supply surrounding tissues and mastoid cells [5] One of these vessels, the subarcuate artery, usually originates from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery or from the labyrinthine artery, whereas the subarcuate vein drains into the superior petrosal sinus or directly into the sigmoid sinus [11, 13]. Some reports provide the hypothesis that the SC can be a potential route for infection from the middle ear to the posterior cranial fossa—even 3.2% of cerebellar abscesses can have such origin [9]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion