Morphometric measurements of anterior clinoid process in relation to parasellar osseous structures and their clinical significance

Abstract

This study is to analyze the morphometry of anterior clinoid process (ACP) and the surrounding parasellar structures which is important for the surgeries related to cavernous sinus, ICA, and basilar artery. A cross-sectional study has been done on 77 adult human dry skulls among North Indian population. The length, width, thickness of ACP and distance between ACP to OS, distance between two ACPs, distance between PCPs, distance between ACP to PCP were measured using digital vernier caliper. The mean and standard deviation was calculated and paired t-test was applied for the comparison. The mean length and width and thickness of ACP was 8.72±0.94 mm, 8.13±1.16 mm and 1.10±0.44 mm on right and 8.57±0.91mm, 8.05±1.24 mm and 1.40±0.41mm on left side. The average distance between the ACP tip to OS and ACP and PCP tip was 6.01±1.11mm and 8.79±1.49mm on the right and 5.90±0.99mm and 8.47±1.49mm left side. The mean distance between the ACP tip and PCP tip was 20.10±2.36 mm and 12.63±2.03 mm respectively. We did not find any significant difference of morphometric parameters between the right and the left side. The anatomical knowledge of these structures and its variation will help surgeons to plan surgery around the parasellar region.