Ultrasonographic assessment of the maxillary artery and middle meningeal artery in the infratemporal fossa

Abstract

Purpose To investigate with Doppler ultrasonography the maxillary and middle meningeal arteries in the infratemporal fossa, and describe their hemodynamic characteristics. Methods We included 24 female and 11 male volunteers without vascular diseases, with a median age of 43 years. We used the acoustic window, enlarged by subjects half‐opening their mouth, located below the zygomatic arch, in front of temporo‐mandibular joint, to reach the maxillary and middle meningeal arteries. Results In the 35 subjects, 112 arteries were visualized successfully: 60 maxillary (85.7%), and 52 middle meningeal arteries (74.3%), at a depth of 2.40 and 2.50 cm, respectively. Their blood flow was directed anteriorly and away from the probe. While all the measured hemodynamic characteristics differed significantly between the maxillary and the middle meningeal artery (P < 0.001), there was no significant difference between male and female subjects, nor between the left or the right side. Conclusions The maxillary and middle meningeal arteries can be insonated in the infratemporal fossa through the easily accessible acoustic window below the zygomatic arch, when the patient holds his mouth half open. They can be differentiated by their ultrasonographic characteristics and blood flow features.

Vascular actions of peripheral CGRP in migraine-like photophobia in mice

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Maxillary Artery Involvement in Giant Cell Arteritis Demonstrated by Ultrasonography

“…The technique to view the maxillary artery has been described in detail. 6 The artery is viewed in the infratemporal fossa between the condylar and coronoid processes of the mandible. The temporomandibular joint must be semi-depressed to allow an optimum window.…”

“…Lepic et al visualised it in 85% of their patients. 6 The involvement of the maxillary artery in GCA is supported on clinical and anatomical grounds. Chewing diffi culties and jaw claudication are present in up to 45% of individuals with GCA.…”

“…3 In our centre, we have established a validated GCA ultrasonography service. 4 In this paper, we have used the defi nitions for ultrasonographic abnormalities in GCA 5 and applied them to the technique of visualising the maxillary artery as described by Lepic et al 6 Using this technique, we describe two cases where the maxillary artery was visualised and found to have changes diagnostic of GCA.…”

Proximity of the middle meningeal artery and maxillary artery to the mandibular head and mandibular neck as revealed by three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography

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