J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2015; 76(04): 272-277
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1396598
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ossification of the Posterior Petroclinoid Dural Fold: A Cadaveric Study with Neurosurgical Significance

David Kimball
1   Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies
,
Heather Kimball
1   Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies
,
Petru Matusz
2   Department of Anatomy, Victor Babes University, Timisoara, Romania
,
R. Shane Tubbs
1   Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies
3   Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
4   Department of Anatomy and Human Identification, Dundee University, United Kingdom
,
Marios Loukas
1   Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies
5   Department of Anatomy, Medical School Varmia and Mazuria, Olsztyn, Poland
,
A. Aaron Cohen-Gadol
6   Department of Neurological Surgery, Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

10 March 2014

27 October 2014

Publication Date:
02 March 2015 (online)

Abstract

Objectives The roof of the porus trigeminus, composed of the posterior petroclinoid dural fold, is an important landmark to the skull base surgeon. Ossification of the posterior petroclinoid dural fold is an anatomical variation rarely mentioned in the literature. Such ossification results in the trigeminal nerve traversing a bony foramen as it enters Meckel cave. The authors performed this study to better elucidate this anatomical variation.

Design Fifteen adult cadaveric head halves were subjected to dissection of the middle cranial fossa. Microdissection techniques were used to examine the posterior petroclinoid dural folds. Skull base osteology was also studied in 71 dry human skulls with attention paid to the attachment point of the posterior petroclinoid dural folds at the trigeminal protuberances.

Setting Cadaver laboratory

Main Outcome Measures Measurements were made using a microcaliper. Digital images were made of the dissections.

Results Completely ossified posterior petroclinoid folds were present in 20% of the specimens. Of the 142 dry skull sides examined, 9% had large trigeminal protuberances.

Conclusions Based on this study, the posterior petroclinoid dural fold may completely ossify in adults that may lead to narrowing of the porus trigeminus and potential compression of the trigeminal nerve at the entrance to Meckel cave.

 
  • References

  • 1 Cederberg RA, Benson BW, Nunn M, English JD. Calcification of the interclinoid and petroclinoid ligaments of sella turcica: a radiographic study of the prevalence. Orthod Craniofac Res 2003; 6 (4) 227-232
  • 2 Lang J. Skull Base and Related Structures: Atlas of Clinical Anatomy [in German]. Stuttgart, Germany: Schattauer; 2001
  • 3 Burgener FA, Kormano M, Pudas T. Differential Diagnosis in Conventional Radiology. New York, NY: Thieme; 2008
  • 4 Butler P. Applied Radiological Anatomy. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 1999
  • 5 Skrzat J, Walocha J, Jaworek JK, Mróz I. The clinical significance of the petroclinoid ligament. Folia Morphol (Warsz) 2007; 66 (1) 39-43
  • 6 Tubbs RS, Salter EG, Oakes WJ. Bony anomaly of Meckel's cave. Clin Anat 2006; 19 (1) 75-77
  • 7 Tubbs RS, Mortazavi MM, Krishnamurthy S, Verma K, Griessenauer CJ, Cohen-Gadol AA. The relationship between the superior petrosal sinus and the porus trigeminus: an anatomical study. J Neurosurg 2013; 119 (5) 1221-1225
  • 8 Sedghizadeh PP, Nguyen M, Enciso R. Intracranial physiological calcifications evaluated with cone beam CT. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2012; 41 (8) 675-678
  • 9 Komminoth R, Woringer E. Trigeminal neuralgia related to anatomical malformations [in French]. Neurochirurgie 1964; 10: 110-114
  • 10 Taarnhøj P. Decompression of the trigeminal root and the posterior part of the ganglion as treatment in trigeminal neuralgia; preliminary communication. J Neurosurg 1952; 9 (3) 288-290
  • 11 Kureshi SA, Wilkins RH. Posterior fossa reexploration for persistent or recurrent trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm: surgical findings and therapeutic implications. Neurosurgery 1998; 43 (5) 1111-1117
  • 12 Standefer M, Bay JW, Dohn DF. Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to a tentorial ossification: a case report. Neurosurgery 1982; 11 (4) 527-529