Korean J Radiol.  2014 Dec;15(6):802-809. 10.3348/kjr.2014.15.6.802.

Visibility of Sutures of the Orbit and Periorbital Region Using Multidetector Computed Tomography

• Gufler H
• Preib M
• Koesling S

• KMID: 1794653
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2014.15.6.802

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Knowledge of cranial suture morphology is crucial in emergency medicine, forensic medicine, and maxillofacial reconstructive surgery. This study assessed the visibility of sutures of the orbit and periorbital region on multidetector computed tomography.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Multidetector computed tomography scans of 200 patients (127 males, 73 females; mean age 51.3 years; range, 6-92 years) were evaluated retrospectively. The slice thicknesses varied from 0.5 to 1 mm, and the tube current from 25 to 370 mAs, depending on the CT indication. The visibility of sutures was estimated according to a 4-point scale from "not visible" to "well visible". The chi-squared test was used to test the association of the visibility of sutures with the slice thickness, tube current, and age of patients. Statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05.
RESULTS
Overall, best visibility was found for the sutura frontozygomatica (98%), sutura frontonasalis (88.5%), and sutura sphenozygomatica (71.5%), followed by the sutura zygomaticomaxillaris (65.8%), sutura temporozygomatica (41.8%), sutura frontomaxillaris (44.5%), and sutura sphenofrontalis (31%). Poor visibility was found for the sutura frontolacrimalis (16.8%) and sutura frontoethmoidalis (1.3%). The sutura ethmoidomaxillaris, sutura lacrimomaxillaris, and sutura ethmoidolacrimalis were not visible.
CONCLUSION
Although the sutures of the superior, lateral, and inferior orbit are well visible, those of the medial orbit are poorly visible on CT scans.

Keyword

Orbit; Cranial suture; Orbital suture; Computed tomography; Head and neck

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Craniocerebral Trauma/pathology/radiography
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Orbit/*radiography
Retrospective Studies
*Sutures
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Two different views on sutures of right orbit and periorbital region. A. Sutures of medial orbital wall. B. Sutures of lateral orbital wall. 1 = sutura frontonasalis, 2 = sutura frontomaxillaris, 3 = sutura frontolacrimalis, 4 = sutura frontoethmoidalis, 5 = sutura sphenofrontalis, 6 = sutura lacrimomaxillaris, 7 = sutura ethmoidolacrimalis, 8 = sutura ethmoidomaxillaris, 9 = sutura zygomaticomaxillaris, 10 = sutura frontozygomatica, 11 = sutura temporozygomatica, 12 = sutura sphenozygomatica. Star = fossa lacrimalis

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  Fig. 2 Sutura frontozygomatica (arrow), coronal multiplanar reconstruction.

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  Fig. 3 Sutura frontonasalis (arrow), coronal multiplanar reconstruction.

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  Fig. 4 Sutura sphenozygomatica (arrow), oblique multiplanar reconstruction.

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  Fig. 5 Sutura zygomaticomaxillaris (arrow), axial CT.

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  Fig. 6 Sutura temporozygomatica (arrow), axial multiplanar reconstruction.

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  Fig. 7 Sutura frontomaxillaris (arrow), angulated coronal multiplanar reconstruction.

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  Fig. 8 Sutura sphenofrontalis (solid arrow) and depiction of sutura sphenozygomatica (dashed arrow), angulated coronal multiplanar reconstruction.

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  Fig. 9 Sutura frontolacrimalis (arrow), coronal multiplanar reconstruction.

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  Fig. 10 Sutura frontalis persistens (arrow), axial scan.

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