Imaging Science in Dentistry

Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (대한영상치의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Fossa navicularis magna detection on cone-beam computed tomography

  • Syed, Ali Z. (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University) ;
  • Mupparapu, Mel (Division of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine)
  • Received : 2015.08.21
  • Accepted : 2015.10.10
  • Published : 2016.03.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Herein, we report and discuss the detection of fossa navicularis magna, a close radiographic anatomic variant of canalis basilaris medianus of the basiocciput, as an incidental finding in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. The CBCT data of the patients in question were referred for the evaluation of implant sites and to rule out pathology in the maxilla and mandible. CBCT analysis showed osseous, notch-like defects on the inferior aspect of the clivus in all four cases. The appearance of fossa navicularis magna varied among the cases. In some, it was completely within the basiocciput and mimicked a small rounded, corticated, lytic defect, whereas it appeared as a notch in others. Fossa navicularis magna is an anatomical variant that occurs on the inferior aspect of the clivus. The pertinent literature on the anatomical variations occurring in this region was reviewed.

Keywords

References

  1. Neelakantan A, Rana AK. Benign and malignant diseases of the clivus. Clin Radiol 2014; 69: 1295-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crad.2014.07.010
  2. Shah A, Goel A. Clival dysgenesis associated with Chiari Type 1 malformation and syringomyelia. J Clin Neurosci 2010; 17: 400-1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2009.05.031
  3. Segal N, Atamne E, Shelef I, Zamir S, Landau D. Intracranial infection caused by spreading through the fossa naviclaris magna - a case report and review of the literature. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2013; 77: 1919-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.09.013
  4. Prabhu SP, Zinkus T, Cheng AG, Rahbar R. Clival osteomyelitis resulting from spread of infection through the fossa navicularis magna in a child. Pediatr Radiol 2009; 39: 995-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-009-1283-9
  5. Collins HB Jr. Frequency and distribution of fossa pharyngea in human crania. Am J Phys Anthropol 1927; 11: 101-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330110106
  6. Krmpotic-Nemanic J, Vinter I, Ehrenfreund T, Marusic A. Age-related changes in the anatomical landmarks of the osseous epipharynx. Ann Anat 2006; 188: 459-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2006.04.005
  7. Ginat DT, Ellika SK, Corrigan J. Multi-detector-row computed tomography imaging of variant skull base foramina. J Comput Assist Tomogr 2013; 37: 481-5. https://doi.org/10.1097/RCT.0b013e318289b370
  8. Currarino G. Canalis basilaris medianus and related defects of the basiocciput. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1988; 9: 208-11.
  9. Beltramello A, Puppini G, El-Dalati G, Girelli M, Cerini R, Sbarbati A, et al. Fossa navicularis magna. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1998; 19: 1796-8.
  10. Quereshy FA, Savell TA, Palomo JM. Applications of cone beam computed tomography in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2008; 66: 791-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2007.11.018
  11. Ben Salem D, Duvillard C. Fossa navicularis: anatomic variation at the skull base. Clin Anat 2006; 19: 365. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.20098
  12. Marom T, Russo E, Ben Salem D, Roth Y. Nasopharyngeal cysts. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2009; 73: 1063-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2009.01.004
  13. Cankal F, Ugur HC, Tekdemir I, Elhan A, Karahan T, Sevim A. Fossa navicularis: anatomic variation at the skull base. Clin Anat 2004; 17: 118-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.10191

Cited by

  1. FOSSA NAVICULARIS MAGNA AT THE SKULL BASE: EMBRYOGENESIS AND ITS DETECTION BY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY vol.99, pp.3, 2018, https://doi.org/10.20862/0042-4676-2018-99-3-153-157
  2. Fossa navicularis in a pediatric patient: anatomical skull base variant with clinical implications vol.22, pp.5, 2018, https://doi.org/10.3171/2018.5.peds18157
  3. Fossa navicularis in a pediatric patient: anatomical skull base variant with clinical implications vol.22, pp.5, 2018, https://doi.org/10.3171/2018.5.peds18157
  4. Prevalence of anatomical variants in the clivus: fossa navicularis magna, canalis basilaris medianus, and craniopharyngeal canal vol.41, pp.4, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02200-3
  5. Evaluation of morphometric features of fossa navicularis using cone-beam computed tomography in a Turkish subpopulation vol.49, pp.3, 2016, https://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2019.49.3.209
  6. Anomalies of the clivus of interest in dental practice: A systematic review vol.51, pp.None, 2021, https://doi.org/10.5624/isd.20210039