Bifid mandibular canal in Japanese.
The location and configuration of mandibular canal variations are important in surgical procedures involving the mandible, such as extraction of an impacted third molar, dental implant treatment, and sagittal split ramus osteotomy. We report 3 Japanese patients with bifid mandibular canals using panoramic radiograph and multi-slice helical computed tomography (CT) images. In 2 of the 5 sides, the bifid mandibular canal was suggested on panoramic radiograph. The bifid mandibular canal had a short and narrow upper canal toward the distal area of the second molar in 4 sides, and a short and narrow lower canal toward the distal area of second molar in 1 side, as revealed on reconstructed CT images. Since the location and configuration of mandibular canal variations are important in surgical procedures involving the mandible, they should be carefully observed using reconstructed CT images.
Naitoh
Munetaka
M
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, and Dental Hospital, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan. mune@dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp
Hiraiwa
Yuichiro
Y
Aimiya
Hidetoshi
H
Gotoh
Masakazu
M
Ariji
Yoshiko
Y
Izumi
Masahiro
M
Kurita
Kenichi
K
Ariji
Eiichiro
E
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed