To demonstrate the pneumatisation process of the sphenoid bone in children of all age and establish anatomical age-related standards of reference for evaluation of sphenoid sinus disease.

Development of the sphenoid sinus was retrospectively reviewed in regard with the ossification process of the sphenoid bone. Age-related patterns of pneumatisation were identified. In this study 104 patients were included aged from 6 days to 15 years that underwent cranial CT examination in our department during the last 2 years (2008-2010).

The postnatal development of the sphenoid bone is a complex dual process that involves: the forming of a single sphenoid bone through the rapid fusion of 5 separate ossification centers and 12 synchondroses that are present in the newborn. the pneumatisation of the sphenoid bone. [1][2][3][4] Non-pneumatised sphenoid sinus. At birth the sphenoid boneis devoid of air. [1] In our study 8 newborns or infants aged from 6 days to 6 months had completely solid sphenoid bones. The mean age of infants without pneumatisation was...

Our results (Fig.1) are consistent with previous studies that also show that aeration of the sphenoid bone begins at the anterior border of the sphenoidal body as a doublet as early as 6 months of age, continues posteriorly and reaches maturity at the age of 10. This means that children older than 10 years of age should have a mature sphenoid sinus, otherwise an occult pathology should be considered, usually chronic anemia with bone marrow conversion or hypoplasia due to trauma,infection or irradiation. [9][11][12][13] The...

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A. Charsoula, C. NALMPANTIDOU, I. Torounidis, D. Rafailidis, C. MAVRIDOU, P. Kirintzis, M. Arvaniti Radiology Department of "G.Gennimatas" Hospital of Thessaloniki, GREECE e-mail address: [email protected] mail address: "G.Gennimatas" Hospital of Thessaloniki Radiology Department 41 Ethnikis Aminis St. 54635 Thessaloniki GREECE