FOSSA NAVICULARIS MAGNA AT THE SKULL BASE: EMBRYOGENESIS AND ITS DETECTION BY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

Fossa navicularis magna was detected in multislice spiral computed tomography in two patients who turned to the medical centers with pathology of the paranasal sinuses. Its appearance is determined during the development of the basilar part of the occipital bone and the body of the sphenoid bone in embryogenesis. This fossa has the appearance of an edge defect on the ventral surface of the clivus in CBCT scans. Practical radiologist should interpret such a finding as a congenital anomaly of development, but not as an invasive lesion.

Keywords

• fossa navicularis magna
• multislice spiral computed tomography
• notochord
• canalis basilaris medianus
• bursa pharyngea.