Enlarged parietal foramina: a review of genetics, prognosis, radiology, and treatment

Abstract

Introduction Enlarged parietal foramina are variable ossification defects in the parietal bones that present as symmetric radiolucencies on skull radiographs. In contrast to the normal small parietal foramina, enlarged parietal foramina are a hereditary condition and genes associated with it have been identified. Methods A literature review was performed to discuss the many known findings related to enlarged parietal foramina. Conclusions Even though they remain asymptomatic in the majority of cases, they may be associated with other pathologies and occasionally become symptomatic. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge of enlarged parietal foramina.

Enlarged parietal foramina: a rare forensic autopsy finding

“…The condition is distinguished from small parietal foramina which are approximately 1-2 mm in diameter [2], may occur both unilaterally and bilaterally, and are variable in number [6].…”

“…Their incidence is not that clear: Tubbs [5] reports an incidence of approximately 1 in 15,000-25,000 and a transmission through autosomal dominant inheritance. Prevalences of 1:15,000 to 1:50,000 are also reported [2].…”

“…Other used terminologies are fenestrae parietales symmetricae, foramina parietalia pragma, and Catlin marks. They can range from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter [2,4], having been reported as large as 2.0 cm [4], although the average size is under 0.5 mm and a size greater than 1.5 mm is rare. Their incidence is not that clear: Tubbs [5] reports an incidence of approximately 1 in 15,000-25,000 and a transmission through autosomal dominant inheritance.…”

“…They were first described in 1707 [2], and since then, the understanding of this condition has evolved substantially. In normal fetuses, the frontal, parietal, and squamous parts of the temporal bones undergo intramembranous ossification which is a direct ossification of the vascularized membrane.…”

“…These bones usually ossify during the fifth month of gestation. When there is insufficient ossification around the parietal notch, they end up as large permanent foramina [2]. EPF are located in the upper posterior angle of the parietal bone close to the intersection of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures, between the posterior third and middle third of the sagittal suture [3] and are presented as symmetric, paired radiolucencies on skull radiographs.…”