No abstract

Background: Ethnic characteristics of individuals are best described with the skull. Cranial index is one of the most important variables for determining sexual dimorphism and of course racial differences. Parameters used in establishing cephalic index vary considerably depending on the age, sex, geographical habitat, ethnic background of the individuals involved and the methods employed. Such has not been documented in Calabar, especially with the use of advanced imaging modality such as the Computed Tomography (CT) scans. This is the rationale of the study.Objective: To determine the cephalic index of Nigerians residing in Calabar using CT scan.Materials and Methods: A total of 200 cranial Brivo 385 16 slice CT scan images of Nigerians aged from 18 to 87 years were obtained from the Asi-Ukpo Diagnostic Medical Centre Calabar. A simple random probability sampling technique was employed. Variables measured were the Maximum Cranial Length (MCL), Maximum Cranial Width (MCW), Bizygomatic Length (BZL) and the Orbital Length (OBL). The cephalic index was obtained by measuring the ratio of the maximum head width (MCW) or the Biparietal Diameter (BPD) to maximum head length (MCL) or the antero-posterior diameter then multiplied by 100.Results: Cranial length was 182.9 ± 0.657mm in males and 178.53 ± 0.09mm in females. Cranial width was 138.59 ± 0.56mm in males and 137.21 ± 0.65mm in females. The orbital length was 34.35 ± 0.31mm in males and 33.37 ± 0.29mm in females while bizygomatic length was 130 ± 0.31mm in males and 127.54 ± 0.84mm in females. Cranial index was 76.09mm in males and 75.81mm in females. No significant difference between males and females of the study population as the subject appears to be largely mesocephalic (p<0.05).Conclusion: Cranial index of the study sampled population is majorly mesocephalic. Therefore, CT scan is very important a tool in the assessment of cranial parameters in anthropometry.Keywords: Anthropometry, Calabar, Cranial index, Computed Tomography, Mesocephalic

Background: A stroke or cerebrovascular accident is associated with defects in the circle of Willis. The present research assessed whether differences in the anatomy of the circle of Willis were implicated in subjects affected by stroke. Materials and methods: A retrospective descriptive (cohort) study of images of 340 male and female subjects aged 15 to 75 years, referred for either brain Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan indicative of suspected stroke, was employed. A convenient sampling technique was used to obtain images from selected hospitals and radio-diagnostic centers with Computed Tomography (CT) and MRI scanners. Approval was obtained from the Federal Health Research Ethics Committee in accordance with institutional guidelines and principles, following permission and clearance (Approval Number: FHREC/2019/01/51/13-05-19). Patterns of morphology observed in the circle of Willis were data collected and stored in a non-identifiable format. Data obtained were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Inc, Chicago, IL, USA version 25.0. Results: Of the total 340 images evaluated, 256 (75.29%) subjects had ischemic stroke while 84 (24.71%) subjects had no stroke and were thus, considered to be apparently normal. Structural patterns in the circle of Willis mostly observed were the absence of the anterior communicating artery (10.94%) and the bilateral absence of the posterior communicating artery (10.16%). Conclusion: Morphological patterns of the cerebral arterial circle of Willis observed, were implicated in subjects affected with stroke in the present study population.