The Evaluation of Morphometry of the Mastoid Process Using Multidetector Computed Tomography in a Living Population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships of the bony landmarks on the lateral surface of the mastoid process (MP). It was also the target of this study to reveal the importance of sexual dimorphism in terms of the mastoid triangle. Our study was performed on 140 (70 women, 70 men) multidetector computed tomography images obtained from patients who underwent radiologic examination at the Department of Radiology of Meram Medical Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University. The height of the MP was measured using 2 different ways. The distance between the mastoid apex and the midpoint of the distance of the porion and the mastoid notch was measured (mastoid height 1). Then, the distance between the Frankfurt horizontal plane and the mastoid apex was measured (mastoid height 2). The distances between porion-mastoid notch, porion-mastoid apex, porion-asterion, asterion-mastoid apex, articular tubercle-asterion, articular tubercle-mastoid apex, as well as the right and the left MP were also measured. Finally, the angles between porion-mastoid apex-asterion, mastoid apex-asterion- porion, and asterion-porion-mastoid apex were measured. All data were analyzed statistically using the Student's t-test. According to the results of the measurements, all right and left parameters of the men were higher than the women's right and left sides except for the angle between asterion-porion-mastoid apex. In addition, all right and left parameters were almost the same in both sexes. Having the knowledge of measurements of the distances between the major landmarks of the temporal bone is essential to avoid possible complications during facial, mastoid, and especially sigmoid sinus surgeries.

Mastoid Process Morphometry on Dry Skulls

“…presented distance between mastoid apex and asterion and compared the difference between right and left sides. They found no statistically significant difference (12). In the present study, distance between asterion and mastoid apex of right side was greater than of left side and the difference between sides was statistically Çalışkan S et al…”

Ipsilateral Hypertrophy of the Mastoid Process in Surgical Cases of Congenital Muscular Torticollis

“…Although ipsilateral hypertrophy of the mastoid process in surgical patients with CMT is evident in the 3-dimensional volume rendered images, we intended to provide objective measurements to prove a subjective assessment of the volume of the mastoid process with axial images. In a previous study, other objective strategies to obtain quantitative markers for the mastoid process volume have been suggested using 3-dimensional volume rendered CT images (Yilmaz et al, 2015). This study used the Frankfurt horizontal plane (a transverse line passing through the zygomatic arch and the suprameatal spine) as a landmark for the most cranial part of the mastoid process.…”

Sexual dimorphism in mastoid process volumes measured from 3D models of dry crania from medieval Croatia

“…The mastoid process and its surrounding region represent one of the most sexually dimorphic parts of the human skull, and is often included in data collection protocols and sex estimation methods (Buikstra and Ubelaker, 1994; Garvin et al, 2014; Jung and Woo, 2016; Langley et al, 2017; Lewis and Garvin, 2016; Nagaoka et al, 2008; Ramsthaler et al, 2010; Rogers, 2005; Stevenson et al, 2009; Walker, 2008; Williams and Rogers, 2006; Yilmaz et al, 2015). The mastoid process can be assessed either visually by its massiveness and voluminosity (Buikstra and Ubelaker, 1994; Walker, 2008), or metrically by its length (sometimes referred to as height), which typically is measured as the vertical projection of the mastoid process below and perpendicular to the Frankfurt horizontal (FH) plane (Moore-Jansen and RL Jantz, 1986; Buikstra and Ubelaker, 1994; Moore-Jansen, RL Jantz, Ousley SD, 1994, Howells 1973).…”

“…Jung and Woo (2016) used geometric morphometrics analysis of sliding landmarks to investigate mastoid shape and centroid size, while Abdel Fatah et al (2014) used an innovative 3D approach that by capturing primary shape variation in the skull, demonstrated sexually dimorphic shape differences in the mastoid process. Other studies have investigated classical linear distances and angles (Buran et al, 2018; Kramer et al, 2018; Yilmaz et al, 2015; Zaafrane et al, 2018), or the area of the “mastoid triangle”: porion - asterion – mastoidale) (de Paiva and Segre, 2003; Gangrade et al, 2013; Ibrahim et al, 2018; Jain et al, 2013; Madadin et al, 2015; Toneva et al, 2019). Baki Allam and Baki Allam (2016) presented a novel approach to mastoid shape and volume analysis by demonstrating sexual dimorphism in a mastoid volume defined by (mastoid height × maximal oblique sagittal diameter × maximal oblique coronal diameter × 0.52).…”