Characterization of the Foramen Magnum in a Sudanese Population Using Computed Tomography

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to use CT images to characterize the foramen magnum (FM) in a sample of Sudanese participants and examine the effect on FM diameter of patient height and the diameter of the base of the skull to help predict pathological conditions according to organ size. Methods and Results: This study was conducted between January 2016 and March 2016 and included 50 patients (60% male and 40% female, aged between 20 and 85 years) with normal cranial CT images. The mean values of the FM sagittal diameter (FMSD) for female and male subjects were 35.80±2.88mm and 37.41±3.27mm, respectively. The mean values of the FM transverse diameter (FMTD) for female and male subjects were 28.8±1.96 mm and 30.93±2.95 mm, respectively. A weak direct correlation was found between FMSD and BSL (r=0.177), indicating that the diameter of the base of the skull is related to the measurement of the FM. Weak direct correlations were also found between patient height and FMSD (r=0.023) and patient height and BSL (r=0.044). Conclusion: The effect of the diameter of the base of the skull on the FM diameters was very weak. There was a relationship between FMSD and patient height, although this correlation was weak.

Keywords

• foramen magnum
• base of the skull
• computed tomography