The coalescence of the foramen lacerum

Abstract

The foramen lacerum is a bony foramen located in the base of the cranium between the occipital, sphenoid, and temporal bones. To evaluate the presence or absence of intracranial aneurysms, the patients included in this study were evaluated with computerized tomographic angiography. Imaging data were stored in digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format and subsequently converted by imaging software into three-dimensional volume rendered neurovascular images. These images of the 6 patients in the study (3 male and 3 female) showed the coalescence of the foramen lacerum. In the three males, the average dimension of the coalescent foramen lacerum in the anterior-to-posterior direction was estimated as 0.41±0.045 (Mean±SEM) centimeters on the right side and 0.2±0.03 centimeters on the left side. In the three females, the average values were estimated as 0.36±0.04 centimeters on the right side and 0.37±0.04 centimeters on the left side. In the males, the average medial-lateral dimensions were estimated as 0.2±0.03 centimeters on the right side and 0.23±0.12 centimeters on the left side. In the females, the average medial-lateral dimensions were estimated as 0.14±0.009 centimeters on the right side and 0.13±0.016 centimeters on the left side. One case had unilateral coalescent foramen lacerum. The other five cases had bilateral coalescent foramen lacerum. The present study defines the term coalescent foramen lacerum and describes its shape and dimensions. © 2016, Journal of Clinical and Analytical Medicine. All rights reserved.