Persistent Metopic Suture: a case reported from North East India

Raktim Pratim Tamuli

Raktim Pratim Tamuli Demonstrator, department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam, India – 781032

Keywords: Death Certificate on Cause of Clinical Death; Cause of Death.

Abstract

Metopic suture is a kind of dentate suture extending from the nasion to the anterior angle of the bregma. Metopism is the condition where, persistence of metopic suture completely extends from nasion to bregma. Metopic suture usually obliterates by 2 years, but it has been reported to take up to seven years to fuse. Examination of skeletal remains of a twelve-year-old girl shows obliteration two halves of the frontal bone in the skull. Dental examination shows presence of total 14 teeth in the upper jaw, including two 2nd molars on each side. Metopism at times may confusing during radiological examination of skull, as it may be misdiagnosed as fracture of skull bone.