Cephalometric analysis in adult population by using computed tomography

Craniofacial region is one of the most complex part of the body and difficult to analyze. Furthermore different ethnic groups and ages have different morfology and properties. The aim of this study is to obtain data of normal craniofacial cephalometric measurements with computed tomography in the adult population. This study is a retrospective cross sectional study on the cranial computed tomography axial images. 21 measurements were taken from 315 CT images of skeletally normal subjects, 159 males and 156 females between the ages of 18-90. There was no significant difference between the distribution of the subjects to different age groups from both genders. Mean values of all measurements except left medial orbital wall length, right and left medial orbital wall protrusion, right and left lateral orbital wall angle were statistically significantly larger in males than in females in all age groups. Bilateral measurements had higher values on the right side of the face in more than half of the subjects. Similar tendencies were observed for asymmetry in both sexes and in different age groups. The mean cephalic index was found 84.24±5.17. The distribution of the crania of the study group according to cephalic index were 34.6% brachicephalic, 28.2% hyperbrachicephalic, 19.7% mesocephalic, 14.3% ultrabrachicephalic and 3.2% dolicocephalic. There was no significant difference between gender and age groups for cephalic index. Numerous correlations were determined between the measurements. Cephalometric studies from the different regions of a country provide data required for establishing the body norms for the population of the country. To determine the differences in various age groups allows the estimation of the differences in a person with aging. Furthermore these data can be helpful in diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial diseases and estimating the prognosis.