The coronal suture, a useful bony landmark in neurosurgery? Craniocerebral topography between bony landmarks on the skull and the brain.

In the present study the variation of the localisation and the course of the coronal suture (CS) was examined on the lateral skull X-ray. The study shows a variation of the localisation and course of the CS from the average position within +/- 4 mm in 65-77% and extreme differences between minimum and maximum values between 16 and 21 mm. The CS has also a considerable variation in its localisation relative to the precentral gyrus. Additionally the craniocerebral relationships and the localisation of the precentral gyrus and pyramidal tract are altered by the lesion or the space occupying process itself. A more exact localisation of the precentral gyrus, respectively the pyramidal tract can be obtained with CT and intraoperative cortical stimulation of the motor strip.