Skull Base Growth in Childhood

Abstract

While studying skull base changes in craniosynostosis, it became apparent that there is a lack of reference studies quantifying the changes of three-dimensional (3D) parameters of the normal skull base throughout childhood. Using advanced 3D visualisation techniques, 34 points of the skull base were identified on MRI scans of 66 normal children, aged 1 month to 15 years. Several distances and angles between the various landmarks were measured in an attempt to quantify the growth of skull fossae with age. Two main growth periods were observed: before and after the first 5 years of life. Most change occurred in the first period. Anatomical regional differences were identified between the two sexes. During the first 5 years of life, the anterior fossa showed rapid growth rate with respect to its anterior projection in males, whereas in the females there was a more concentric growth pattern. The body of the sphenoid bone and the middle fossa showed a rapid growth rate in both sexes which was greater in the females. The posterior fossa showed a concentric pattern of growth in both sexes with a greater growth rate in the females. These findings provide new insight into the pattern of growth of the various parts of the skull base and can be used for comparative study of deformities that affect such growth.