The Normal and Pathologic Anatomy of the Sella Turcica as Revealed at Necropsy

Abstract

THE roentgenologic interpretation and significance of changes, in and about the sella turcica are so dependent on an accurate knowledge of the normal and pathologic anatomy of this structure that this study was undertaken in an effort to demonstrate in a series of 110 cases the normal and pathologic changes found postmortem. As the roentgen image of the sella is dependent on the configuration of the sphenoid bone, dorsum sellae, and clinoid processes, observation was limited to the variations found in these structures. The sella and surrounding processes were removed in toto and the soft tissues dissected from the bone. Variations in Size The dimensions of the sella turcica in normal, specimens were measured in the antero-posterior, vertical, and transverse directions. The various averages for these dimensions are given in Figure 1, under their respective headings. The antero-posterior measurements were taken from the most dorsal point of the tuberculum sellae in the sagittal plane to the anterior edge of t...