Multiple sutural bones: How to differentiate it from the vessel impressions on the skull: An anatomico-radiological study with clinical implications

Objectives: Multiple suturai bones are a common finding in the skull but there are few anatomico-radiological studies relating such to the impressions of the blood vessels on the skull. The presence of multiple sutural bones may be due to additional ossification centres around the sutures of the skull. These sutural bones of the skull may be important for academic, anthropological, radiological and clinical purpose. Design: An osteológica! study. Materials and methods: A total of 50 human skulls were taken for the study. The dried skull bones were studied in detail for the presence of any sutural bones and were photographed. A skiagram was also obtained to study the radiological aspect of the wormian bones and compare it with impressions meant for meningeal vessels on the parietal bone. Results: Presence of multiple sutural bones were observed in 8 skulls (16%). Majority of the sutural bones were located at an average distance of 2.5 cm above the tip of mastoid process, near the lambdoid suture. The sutural bones measured 1.1 cm and 1.5 cm in transverse width and vertical length, respectively. Conclusion: The presence of multiple sutural bones may mimic the appearance of fractures which may result in erroneous interpretation in routine roentgenographic studies. In a routine skiagram, the sutures may be differentiated from fractures and meningeal vessel impressions by the serrated appearance, which is usually observed on the outer table of the skull.