Evaluation of Sella Turcica Shape and Dimensions in Cleft Subjects Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the morphology of the sella turcica and measure its size in cleft and noncleft subjects. Material and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 54 individuals (29 males; 25 females) with cleft and 85 (22 males; 63 females) without cleft were used for this study. Syndromic patients with cleft(s) were not included because of possible additional endocrinological and/or morphological disorders. Linear measurements included length, depth, and diameter. The shape of the sella turcica was analyzed in the cleft and noncleft groups. An independent t test was conducted to evaluate differences between genders and groups. One-way ANOVA was used to compare age groups. Results: The length (p < 0.001) of the sella turcica was smaller in noncleft subjects than in cleft subjects. Diameter (p = 0.014) and depth (p = 0.005) showed as constantly increasing from an age <15 to >25 years in the overall assessment. The distribution of the shape of the sella turcica differed significantly between groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this study, CBCT was used to assess the morphology of the sella turcica. A majority of the subjects with cleft had a flattened sella turcica compared to that of the control group. A shorter length of the sella turcica was more evident in the cleft subjects than in the control group.

Cephalometric Appraisal of the Sella Turcica- A Literature Review

“…Recently shape and dimensions of sella turcica have been evaluated using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in cleft subjects. Their results confirm previous findings regarding shortened length of sella turcica in cleft patients (74).…”

Sella turcica morphometrics in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15] Results of these studies show that its size seems to be in general smaller than in non-cleft individuals, 10,11,13,14 except in one study that shows the opposite. 15 Studies have also shown that sella shape is more frequently abnormal in individuals with CLP. 10,12,14 These findings may be important in the particular case of patients with CLP because it is known that children with CLP tend to have somewhat deficient statural growth when compared with their non-cleft counterparts, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] and can have growth hormone or hypothalamo-pituitary hormone deficiency.…”

Correlation Between Vertical Growth Patterns of the Jaws and Sella Turcica's Linear Dimensions Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in an Egyptain Subpopulation.

“…Subsequently, 1-mm sagittal slices, were made distal to the right side of the midsagittal plane so as to identify the level of sella turcica, for the measurement of the length, depth and diameter of the sella turcica. (16) (Fig. 1 and 2) as follows: ß Length of the sella turcica is defined as the distance between the tip of tuberculum sellae and dorsum sellae.…”