The developing spheno-occipital skull base: developmental variants and embryologic remnants that mimic pathology in children

The pediatric skull base develops through a complex sequence of events from fetal development through adolescence and may result in numerous normal variants and embryonic remnants that can mimic pathology on imaging. This review highlights the embryologic basis and imaging appearance of common central skull base developmental variants encountered in children. Focusing on synchondroses, clefts, foramina, notochordal remnants, and pneumatization-related variants, we emphasize age-dependent findings and key imaging features that provide radiologists with a reference to support confident interpretation and the ability to distinguish benign developmental variants from true pathology in children.