Basilar transverse fissure

Last revised by Mohamed Saber on 30 Nov 2023

The basilar transverse fissure, also known as Saucer's fissure, is a potential channel through the clivus in the basilar part of the occipital bone. It is considered a normal anatomical variant and should not be confused with clival clefts that can be seen with certain syndromes such CHARGE syndrome 2.

Clinical importance

Clival clefts are important to identify for the purposes of neurosurgical interventions and may also play a part as a pathway for the dissemination of infection in children 3,4.

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.