Evaluation of the dimentions and morphology of the sella turcica in patients with different vertical growth patterns

Aim: The primary aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the linear dimensions, bridging degree, and shape distribution of the sella turcica in patients with different vertical growth patterns using lateral cephalometric radiographs. Materials and Methods: The study included pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 150 individuals (75 females, 75 males) with no systemic disease, syndrome, craniofacial anomaly, or developmental disoarder. Among the individuals, 75 were classified as pre-peak and 75 as post-peak. Skeletal age was assessed using the cervical vertebral maturation method. According to vertical growth pattern, the individuals were categorized into three groups: 50 hypodivergent, 50 normodivergent, and 50 hyperdivergent. The linear parameters used for the morphological evaluation of the sella turcica (length, depth, and diameter) were measured using the ImageJ software (ImageJ, National Institutes of Health, USA). Length was defined as the anteroposterior distance between the tip of the tuberculum sellae and the tip of the dorsum sellae. Diameter was measured as the anteroposterior distance from the tuberculum sellae to the most distant point on the posterior inner wall of the sella turcica. Depth was calculated by measuring the perpendicular distance from a line drawn between the tuberculum sellae and dorsum sellae to the deepest point on the floor of the sella turcica. In terms of shape distribution, the sella turcica was categorized into oval, round, and flat groups based on the width-to-depth ratio. To classify the degree of sella turcica bridging, the classification proposed by Leonardi et al. (2006) was used. Class I indicates the absence of calcification, Class II represents partial interclinoid calcification, and Class III indicates complete interclinoid calcification. Results: The length of the sella turcica was found to be significantly shorter in the normodivergent group compared to the other groups (p = 0.001), while no statistically significant difference was observed in diameter and depth among the groups (p>0,05). When evaluated by gender, only the depth values were significantly lower in female individuals (p = 0.001). Additionally, when skeletal age groups were examined, a statistically significant increase in sella turcica depth was observed in post-peak females. No statistically significant differences were found in the shape distribution and bridging degree of the sella turcica according to gender, skeletal age, or vertical growth patterns (p>0,05). Conclusion: A statistically significant relationship was found only for the length parameter between sella turcica morphology and vertical skeletal growth patterns. Future studies with larger and more diverse sample groups, employing advanced imaging techniques and accounting for the genetic variability across different populations, are expected to provide valuable contributions to the existing body of literature. Key Words: Sella turcica, Lateral cephalometric radiograph, Vertical growth pattern.