Morphometric evaluation of the sella turcica relating to age, sex and facial skeletal pattern: a cross-sectional comparative study of cone beam computed tomography

Abstract

The aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the morphology of the sella turcica (ST) using CBCT and relate the data obtained with the facial skeletal pattern (Classes I, II and III), sex and age of the individuals. Measurements of length, depth, diameter, length of the anterior cranial base length and ST volume were collected. The ST bridge was evaluated according to the relationship between length and anteroposterior diameter, following the Leonardi standard as type 1 (no calcification), type 2 (partial calcification) and type 3 (complete calcification). The sample consisted of 180 individuals, divided according to age group, sex and facial skeletal pattern. The results showed that measurements of length, depth, diameter, volume and anterior cranial base are greater in males (p<0.001). Individuals under 40 years of age had larger ST length and anterior cranial base measurements (p<0.038 and p<0.032, respectively). Individuals with a class I facial skeletal pattern had a larger length and diameter than those in class II and a larger anterior cranial base than those in class III (p<0.031, p<0.012 and p<0.014, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference for variant ST formats (irregular and pyramidal) for females and individuals over 40 years old (p = 0.003 and p<0.001 respectively). ST morphology and morphometry can be influenced by factors such as sex, age and facial skeletal patterns.