HRCT Study of the Sphenooccipital Synchondrosis / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the development of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis on high resolution CT scans.Methods 269 cases,HRCT findings of the sphenoocipital synchondrosis ranged in age from 3 months to 74 years old were analysed.Four points were assessed on HRCT scans (a) The pattern of the synchondrosis, (b) The location and time of appearance of the ossification center in the synchondrosis, (c) The vestige of the synchondrosis after fusion of the sphenoid and occipital bones and (d) The development of sphenoid sinus.Results The pattern of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis could be classified into three types, including complete opening, partial and complete closure. The spheno-occipital synchondrosis was variable in shapes in opening group,a notch existed in 57 cases, the mean of the thickness of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis was 1.8 mm, there was negative correlation between the thickness of the synchondrosis and the age (r= -0.92,P