Assessment of bifid and trifid mandibular canals using cone-beam computed tomography

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the prevalence of bifid and trifid mandibular canals using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, and to measure their length, diameter, and angle.Materials and MethodsCBCT images of 500 patients, involving 755 hemi-mandibles, were used for this study. The presence and type of bifid mandibular canal was evaluated according to a modified classification of Naitoh et al. Prevalence rates were determined according to age group, gender, and type. Further, their diameter, length, and angles were measured using PACSPLUS Viewer and ImageJ 1.46r. Statistical analysis with chi-squared and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests was performed.ResultsBifid and trifid mandibular canals were found in 22.6% of the 500 patients and 16.2% of the 755 sides. There was no significant difference between genders and among age groups. The retromolar canal type accounted for 71.3% of the identified canals; the dental canal type, 18.8%; the forward canal type, 4.1%; and the trifid canal type, 5.8%. Interestingly, seven cases of the trifid canal type, which has been rarely reported, were observed. The mean diameter of the bifid and trifid mandibular canals was 2.2 mm and that of the main mandibular canal was 4.3 mm. Their mean length was 16.9 mm; the mean superior angle was 149.2°, and the mean inferior angle was 37.7°.ConclusionBifid and trifid mandibular canals in the Korean population were observed at a relatively high rate through a CBCT evaluation, and the most common type was the retromolar canal. CBCT is suggested for a detailed evaluation of bifid and trifid mandibular canals before mandibular surgery.

Prevalence of bifid mandibular canal and its relationship with third molar in Indian population: A retrospective analysis

“…Recent studies employed CBCT images where Rashsuren et al, [11] Yang et al, [12] and Orhan et al [13] found the prevalence as high as 22.6%, 31.1%, and 46.5%, respectively, compared to the prevalence of 5.63% found in the present study using CBCT images. Sanchis et al [9] reported female predilection; however, in the present study, male predilection was found.…”

Anatomical variations of mandibular canal detected by panoramic radiography and CT: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…28 The rest 3,18,21,[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] of the studies were published in dental journals. Sample sizes ranged from 308 38 to 1933 32 CT images and from 350 39 to 6000 panoramic radiographic images.…”

“…Sample sizes ranged from 308 38 to 1933 32 CT images and from 350 39 to 6000 panoramic radiographic images. 21 The studies were conducted in nine different countries: Brazil, 30,34,36,37 Canada, 28 Chile, 39 India, 33 Korea, 29,31,32,35 South Africa, 3 Spain, 18 Taiwan 38 and USA. 21 Most of the articles were published in English, 3,18,21,28,29,[31][32][33][34][35]38,39 and three articles were published in Portuguese.…”

Variação anatômica do canal mandibular: relato de caso

“…Contudo apresentam limitações inerentes à técnica radiográfica, como a não observação da relação vestíbulo-lingual com outras estruturas anatômicas 1,8,9 . A presença de imagens produzidas por reparos anatômicos como a impressão do nervo milo-hioideo na superfície interna da mandíbula, ou ainda uma condensação radiográfica causada pela inserção do musculo milo-hioideo na superfície interna da mandíbula, paralela ao canal mandibular [10][11][12] . Levando em conta a importância do procedimento, se faz necessária tomográfica computadorizada, a qual permite avaliação mais detalhada 13,14 .…”