PREVALENCE OF PNEUMATIZATION OF THE CRISTA GALLI IN DENTAL PATIENTS

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> A large field of view (FOV) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan can show an anatomic variant, such as pneumatization of the crista galli. The crista galli is a bony projection that extends superiorly from the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. It is located at the midline of the anterior cranial fossa and is where the falx cerebri attaches anteriorly. As there is no literature on this topic using CBCT imaging, we undertook this study to add to the research as well as to inform dentists and specialists about pneumatization of crista galli. <h3>Objective(s)</h3> The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of pneumatization of the crista galli using CBCT images and to compare the prevalence of pneumatization of crista galli in patients receiving nonsurgical versus surgical dental treatment. <h3>Study Design</h3> The study included 514 diagnostic CBCT scans from 2015 to 2016. Age, sex, treatment provided, and the size of pneumatized crista galli were recorded. The associations between age and sex versus pneumatization of the crista galli were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. The associations between treatment and pneumatization of crista galli were assessed using Pearson's χ² and Fischer's exact tests. <h3>Results</h3> The average age of the patients was 15.69 years. Pneumatization of crista galli occurred in 20 out of 514 (3.8%) patients. The median cranial–caudal length of a pneumatized crista galli was 4.78 mm in females and 5.62 mm in males. The median width was 4.49 mm in females and 6.98 mm in males. Patients with pneumatization were statistically significantly older than the patients without pneumatization (U = 3041.5; <i>P</i> = .004). Among the nonsurgical categories, orthodontic treatment was classified as significant (<i>P</i> = .008). Among surgical categories, orthognathic surgery was found to be significant in the presentation of pneumatization of the crista galli (<i>P</i> = .001). Fischer's exact test showed there was a significantly higher percentage of surgical patients with pneumatization compared with nonsurgical patients (<i>P</i> = .003). <h3>Discussion/Conclusions</h3> Age, orthodontic treatment, and orthognathic surgery were significantly associated with pneumatization of the crista galli. Gender did not contribute substantially to pneumatization of the crista galli.