Summary

This paper determined the morphometric measurements of posterior cranial fossa using MRI in Turkish healthy population. Two hundred thirty one (231; 131 females and 100 males) subjects ranging from 20 up to 85 years were included in this study. Measurements of the posterior cranial fossa were taken from subjects having brain MRI in the Radiology Department, Adana, Turkey. Statistical analysis were done by SPSS 21.00 package programme. ANOVA Test and Chi-Square Test were used to determine the relation between measurements and age groups. The p<0.05 value was considered as significant. The overall means and standard deviations of the measurements were: Clivus length,31.10±5.45 mm; McRae line, 32.59±3.89 mm; Supraocciput length,41.99 ±4.37 mm; Twining line, 79.23±5.53 mm; Posterior cranial fossa height, 66.76±5.06 mm; Cerebellum height, 55.17±5.29 mm; Clival angle, 125.59°±6.57°; Cerebellar tentorium angle, 128.30°±7.77° mm, Occipital protuberance angle, 93.27°±8.02° and hindbrain vertical length, 50.56±3.47 mmin females, respectively, whereas the corresponding values were 32.43±5.99 mm; 32.85±3.77 mm; 42.46±4.68 mm; 80.95±5.94 mm; 69.70±4.67mm; 57.01±3.43 mm; 123.90°±7.12° 128.80±8.33°; 95.35±9.19° and 52.71±3.33 mm in males, respectively. Significant difference was found in some parameters such as twining line, posterior cranial fossa height, cerebellum height and hindbrain vertical length between sex (p<0.05). Also, ages were divided into six groups as decades. Significant difference between six decades was also found in parameters including McRae line, twining line, posterior cranial fossa height, cerebellum height, clival angle, cerebellar tentorium angle, occipital tuberance angle and hindbrain vertical length (p<0.05). The posterior cranial fossa dimensions of healthy population provides important and useful knowledge in terms of comparison of abnormalities clinically, and data can be used as an anatomical landmark during surgery involving posterior cranial fossa.

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