Evaluation of the Effect of Age, Gender, and Skeletal Class on the Dimensions of Sella Turcica Using Lateral Cephalogram

CONTEXT: Sella turcica or pituitary fossa is a saddle-shaped concavity housing the pituitary gland and seen clearly on lateral cephalogram. This makes it a good source of additional diagnostic information related to pathology of the pituitary gland or to various syndromes that affect the craniofacial region. AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the average dimensions and morphological variations of the sella turcica in different age groups and to evaluate any difference in size between males and females in the study population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: All the lateral cephalograms were taken by trained radiographic technicians using Planmeca Promax Ceph X-ray Machine, Finland, Inc., in a standardized manner using the same cephalostat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and eighty lateral cephalograms were obtained under standardized conditions. With age range between 7 and 43 years, all the radiographs were distributed according to skeletal class and gender. Size and morphology of sella turcica were recorded and compared with age, gender, and skeletal class. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: A Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was found to be 16.8 years comprising 48.6% males and 51.3% females. There was a gradual increase in linear dimensions of sella turcica with the advancement of age. The normal sella was observed in 20.6%, whereas 79.35% showed variation in morphology. Oblique anterior wall was a most common abnormal variant, whereas pyramidal shaped dorsum was rarest. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in linear dimensions or morphological variations with age, gender, or type of malocclusion.