title: A false presence of bifid mandibular canals in panoramic radiographs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed in order to verify bifid mandibular canals revealed from panoramic radiographic results.
  
  
  METHODS
  1000 panoramic radiographs from dental patients and the panorama, cone beam CT (CBCT) and micro-CT from 40 dry mandibles were examined for bifid mandibular canals. The results were confirmed by a stereoscopic and histological examination of the cross-sectioned mandibles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of bifid canals detected from the panoramic radiographs was 0.038. The panoramic radiographs from one dry mandible showed two separate radiolucent mandibular canal-like structures delineated by radio-opaque lines. However, a stereoscopic and histological examination of a cross-section of the mandible showed that only one canal was a true canal containing neurovascular bundles: the other was false, reflecting merely a bony trabecular pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of bifid mandibular canals determined by panoramic radiography should be judged with great caution in relation to dental surgery.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Yongbongdong, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: M-S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S-J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: H-W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: S-Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: N-R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: H-I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: W-M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D002102:Cadaver; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography