Evaluation of anatomical variations of sella turcica with age and gender using digital lateral cephalogram in Chennai city

Background: Pituitary gland dysfunction might be predicted by examining the alteration of Sella turcica during the routine radiological examination of lateral cephalogram. Aim: The study aimed to analyze the variation in size and shape of sella turcica according to age and gender on lateral cephalogram among the people in the south zone of Chennai city. Materials and Method: A series of lateral cephalogram images from 200 patients comprising 94 males and 106 females were collected retrospectively from archives in the database. The shape and size of sella turcica were measured digitally. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test and unpaired sample t-test. Results: The frequency of distribution of shapes of sella turcica among the people in Chennai city was 46% normal followed by 15.5% irregular dorsum sellae, 14.5% pyramidal shape, 11.5% bridging, 7% oblique anterior wall, 5.5% double contour. The length and depth of Sella turcica was greater in males when compared with that of the females which were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The depth and diameter were higher in the 10–20 years age group than the 20–30 year age group, which was statistically significant (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The size of Sella turcica alters between different age groups and gender. Variations in the shape of Sella turcica were present in nearly half of the individuals in the present study. Thus, the morphology of Sella turcica should be assessed as a part of routine radiographic examination.