Osteological Study of the Parietal Foramen in the Adult Human Skull Bones and its Clinical and Surgical Correlations / Estudio Osteológico del Foramen Parietal en los Huesos del Cráneo Humano Adulto y sus Correlaciones Clínicas y Quirúrgicas

SUMMARY: Parietal emissary foramina (PEF) are small holes, which are localized between the middle and posterior thirds of the parietal bone posterior surface close to the sagittal suture. PEF are important structures that protect the parietal emissary vein, which passes through it. During neurosurgery procedures, parietal foramina (PF) knowledge is crucial. This work aimed to evaluate presence and location of the PF in the skull of an adult human. Moreover, measure the distance amidst PF and the sagittal suture's midline to ascertain its clinical repercussions. 74 adult human skulls, without gross pathology, were observed for the PF's existence. The PF's and sagittal suture's midline distance were measured. According to the PF patterns of presence, five groups were distributed. Finally, specimens were photographed and subjected to statistical analysis. The PF was absent in 7 skulls (9.5 %). There were 9 skulls (12.2 %) exhibited central parietal foramen where the parietal foramen lies on the sagittal suture. 17 skulls (23 %) showed right unilateral parietal foramen, whereas 15 skulls (20.3 %) demonstrated left unilateral parietal foramen. The final 26 skulls (35.1 %) exhibited bilateral parietal foramen. This descriptive study supplies valuable information of PF variations, which is crucial for neurosurgeons in modifying surgical techniques and procedures to alleviate injury to PF-emerging structures such as emissary veins.

Los forámenes emisarios parietales (FEP) son pequeños orificios que se localizan entre los tercios medio y posterior de la superficie posterior del hueso parietal, cerca de la sutura sagital. Los FEP son estructuras importantes que protegen la vena emisaria parietal, que lo atraviesa. Durante los procedimientos de neurocirugía, el conocimiento de los forámenes parietales (FP) es crucial. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar la presencia y ubicación del FP en el cráneo de hombres adultos, además, medir la distancia entre el FP y la línea mediana de la sutura sagital para conocer su repercusión clínica. Se examinaron 74 cráneos humanos adultos, sin patología grave, para determinar la existencia del FP. Se midió la distancia de la línea mediana de la sutura sagital y del FP. De acuerdo con los patrones de presencia del FP, se distribuyeron en cinco grupos. Finalmente, los especímenes fueron fotografiados y sometidos a análisis estadístico. El PF estaba ausente en 7 cráneos (9,5 %). Hubo 9 cráneos (12,2 %) que presentaban un PF central localizándose en la sutura sagital. 17 cráneos (23 %) presentaban un FP unilateral derecho, mientras que 15 cráneos (20,3 %) se observó un FP unilateral izquierdo. Los 26 cráneos restantes (35,1 %) exhibieron FP bilaterales. Este estudio descriptivo proporciona información valiosa sobre las variaciones del FP, que es fundamental para los neurocirujanos en el momento de modificar las técnicas y los procedimientos quirúrgicos para aliviar las lesiones de las estructuras emergentes del FP, como las venas emisarias.

Enlarged parietal foramina presenting as scalp swelling in an infant

“Enlarged parietal foramina” is a congenital malformation with autosomal dominant inheritance. The condition is usually self-limiting and doesn’t require any treatment. However, it may also be associated with encephalocele, vascular anomalies or may be a part of syndrome. We present a case of enlarged parietal foramina in a child and discuss its imaging findings and the associated intracranial vascular malformations.

The First Korean Patient with Potocki-Shaffer Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Multiple Exostoses

Potocki-Shaffer syndrome (PSS, OMIM #601224) is a rare contiguous gene deletion syndrome caused by haploinsufficiency of genes located on the 11p11.2p12. Affected individuals have a number of characteristic features including multiple exostoses, biparietal foramina, abnormalities of genitourinary system, hypotonia, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. We report here on the first Korean case of an 8-yr-old boy with PSS diagnosed by high resolution microarray. Initial evaluation was done at age 6 months because of a history of developmental delay, hypotonia, and dysmorphic face. Coronal craniosynostosis and enlarged parietal foramina were found on skull radiographs. At age 6 yr, he had severe global developmental delay. Multiple exostoses of long bones were detected during a radiological check-up. Based on the clinical and radiological features, PSS was highly suspected. Subsequently, chromosomal microarray analysis identified an 8.6 Mb deletion at 11p11.2 [arr 11p12p11.2 (Chr11:39,204,770-47,791,278)x1]. The patient continued rehabilitation therapy for profound developmental delay. The progression of multiple exostosis has being monitored. This case confirms and extends data on the genetic basis of PSS. In clinical and radiologic aspect, a patient with multiple exostoses accompanying with syndromic features, including craniofacial abnormalities and mental retardation, the diagnosis of PSS should be considered.

The First Korean Patient with Potocki-Shaffer Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Multiple Exostoses

Potocki-Shaffer syndrome (PSS, OMIM #601224) is a rare contiguous gene deletion syndrome caused by haploinsufficiency of genes located on the 11p11.2p12. Affected individuals have a number of characteristic features including multiple exostoses, biparietal foramina, abnormalities of genitourinary system, hypotonia, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. We report here on the first Korean case of an 8-yr-old boy with PSS diagnosed by high resolution microarray. Initial evaluation was done at age 6 months because of a history of developmental delay, hypotonia, and dysmorphic face. Coronal craniosynostosis and enlarged parietal foramina were found on skull radiographs. At age 6 yr, he had severe global developmental delay. Multiple exostoses of long bones were detected during a radiological check-up. Based on the clinical and radiological features, PSS was highly suspected. Subsequently, chromosomal microarray analysis identified an 8.6 Mb deletion at 11p11.2 [arr 11p12p11.2 (Chr11:39,204,770-47,791,278)x1]. The patient continued rehabilitation therapy for profound developmental delay. The progression of multiple exostosis has being monitored. This case confirms and extends data on the genetic basis of PSS. In clinical and radiologic aspect, a patient with multiple exostoses accompanying with syndromic features, including craniofacial abnormalities and mental retardation, the diagnosis of PSS should be considered.

Estudio morfométrico del foramen parietal / Morphometry study of the parietal foramen

Los huesos parietales habitualmente presentan pequeños forámenes, estos en número de dos se encuentran situados próximo de la unión de la sutura sagital con la lambdoidea. Éstos forámenes permiten que venas emisarias drenen en el seno longitudinal superior a venas occipitales y, algunas veces, transmite una pequeña rama de la arteria occipital. Se efectuó un estudio anatómico en 39 calotas, en buen estado de conservación, de individuos adultos, del museo de la Unidad de Anatomía, Universidad de La Frontera, Chile. Se registraron los siguientes datos: presencia del foramen parietal, distancia desde el lambda al foramen parietal y desde el foramen parietal a la sutura sagital, diámetro del foramen parietal. El 58,9% de las calotas presentaban cada uno de los huesos parietales un foramen; el 25,6% presentaba un foramen en un parietal no existiendo en el hueso contralateral; y el 15,3% no presentaba foramen parietal. La distancia promedio del lambda al foramen parietal fue de 33,25 mm; la distancia de la sutura sagital al foramen parietal fue en promedio de 6,29mm; el promedio del diámetro máximo del foramen parietal fue de 2,65mm y el mínimo de 0,37mm. Estos datos anatómicos del foramen parietal aportan nuevos antecedentes para futuros estudios.

The bone parietal foramina usually minor, in these two numbers are located near the junction of the sagittal suture with lambdoidea. These foramina allow emissary veins draining into the superior longitudinal sinus in the occipital veins, and sometimes sends a small branch of the occipital artery. Anatomical studies in 39 cranium, well-preserved, adult, of the Anatomy Museum of the Universidad de La Frontera, Chile was realized. Recorded the following data: presence of the parietal foramen, the distance from the lambda and the parietal foramen parietal foramen to the sagittal suture and diameter of the parietal foramen. The 58.9% of the cranium presented each of the parietal bone foramen, 25.6% had a parietal foramen in a bone in the absence of contralateral and 15.3% had no parietal foramen. The average distance from lambda to parietal foramen was 33.25 mm, the distance from the sagittal suture to the parietal foramen averaged 6.29 mm, the average maximum diameter of the parietal foramen was 2.65 mm and a minimum of 0 , 37mm. These anatomical data provide new parietal foramen of the background for future studies.