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A new morphometric method for the sella turcica and the hypophyseal fossa and its clinical relevance
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Abstract
The proposed morphometric method was applied to 20 dry skulls. We first made casts of the corresponding sellae. Their volumes were then measured by immersion. The frontal section of each hypophyseal fossa was obtained through its deepest point and magnified. The Cartesian co-ordinates of the contour of the section were used to evaluate the corresponding area and centroid. The volume of each fossa was finally obtained by the use of Pappus’ theorem applied to solids of rotation.
The volumes of the sellae obtained as above ranged from 460 mm3 to 1570 mm3 with a mean value of 835 mm3. These figures are comparable to those reported from previous authors. To our knowledge the method described has enabled a close approximation of the volumes of the hypophyseal fossae to be made for the first time. These volumes ranged from 24 mm3 to 300 mm3, with a mean value of 157 mm3. Similar numerical methods might be applicable in vivo by the use of MR imaging.
Abstract
The proposed morphometric method was applied to 20 dry skulls. We first made casts of the corresponding sellae. Their volumes were then measured by immersion. The frontal section of each hypophyseal fossa was obtained through its deepest point and magnified. The Cartesian co-ordinates of the contour of the section were used to evaluate the corresponding area and centroid. The volume of each fossa was finally obtained by the use of Pappus’ theorem applied to solids of rotation.
The volumes of the sellae obtained as above ranged from 460 mm3 to 1570 mm3 with a mean value of 835 mm3. These figures are comparable to those reported from previous authors. To our knowledge the method described has enabled a close approximation of the volumes of the hypophyseal fossae to be made for the first time. These volumes ranged from 24 mm3 to 300 mm3, with a mean value of 157 mm3. Similar numerical methods might be applicable in vivo by the use of MR imaging.
Keywords
Pituitary; hypophyseal; macroadenoma; empty sella; Pappus’ theorem; solid of rotation
Title
A new morphometric method for the sella turcica and the hypophyseal fossa and its clinical relevance
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
240-247
Published online
2005-09-20
Page views
607
Article views/downloads
2373
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2005;64(4):240-247.
Keywords
Pituitary
hypophyseal
macroadenoma
empty sella
Pappus’ theorem
solid of rotation
Authors
Venieratos D
Anagnostopoulou S
Garidou A