Determination of the Chronological Age of Skull Base Suture Closure Using Computed Tomography

Abstract

The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  determine  the  postnatal  chronological  age  of  central  and  posterior  skull  base suture closure using computed tomography.  The central  and posterior skull base suture  of pediatric brain CT’s obtained from 75  girls and  125 boys of varying ages (newborn to 18 years) were evaluated for this purpose. Premature infants of less  than  38  weeks  gestation,  cases  of  congenital  skull  base  malformations,  and  cranial  anomalies  were  excluded.  All brain CT studies were performed using 3 mm axial slice thickness at the skull base level. The central and posterior skull base sutures, synchondroses and ossification centers were all assessed for normal appearance and age of closure. The age of initial and completed fusion for the 12 main sutures in the occipital and sphenoid bones, were determined.

Data  obtained  during  the  study  provides  CT  scans  standard  for  normal  age  of  closure  of  the  central  and  posterior  skull base sutures that may assist in the future evaluation of skull base fractures, dysplasia and deformities.