Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the morphology and measure the size of the sella turcica in Iraqi population and compared with available global data. Computed Tomography (CT) images of 71 individuals (49 males and 22 females) with an age range of 33.9 years were taken. Conventional measurements included three different heights of the sella turcica (anterior, posterior, median), its length, diameter and width, measured in relation to the Frankfort reference line (FH). In addition, the area of sella turcica was calculated. Morphometric methods were used to assess shape. Multiple statistical analyses were done to calculate differences in dimensions and to establish if any relationship exists between age, sex and the morphometry of the sella turcica. No significant differences in size of the sella were found between genders. When age was evaluated, all dimensions showed positive correlation with the age. Sella size of the older age group was as a rule larger than the younger age. The study found that sella turcica presented with a three different shapes: in a U shape (50.7 %), in a J shape (32.4 %) and shallow (16.9 %). Sella shape and dimensions reported in the current study can be used for discovering pathological enlargement of the pituitary fossa and may also be helpful in providing reference data in the orthodontic diagnosis, assessment and treatment plan and assessment of racial, gender and age specific variation in the Iraqi population.
