title: Radiologic assessment of the relationship between the maxillary artery and the lateral pterygoid muscle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The course of the second part of the maxillary can vary among different races. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between the maxillary artery and the lateral pterygoid muscle in a white population sample on computed tomographic (CT) angiograms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed multidetector CT angiograms of 209 patients (134 men and 75 women). The images were taken using a 64-row multidetector CT scanner. The imaging parameters were 0.5 × 64-mm slice thickness, 0.5- or 0.3-mm increment, 120 kV, 250 mA s, 0.5-second rotation time, 0.641 pitch, and 512 matrix. The relationship between the pterygoid portion of the maxillary artery and the lateral pterygoid muscle was assessed on axial, sagittal, and coronal multiplanar reformatted images with the Vitrea 2 software program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 572 maxillary arteries in 286 patients were assessed. Of these maxillary arteries, 418 (68.42%) had a superficial course to the pterygoid muscle and 132 (31.58%) had a deep course. In 165 (78.94%) of 286 patients, there was a cross-lateral symmetry of the course of the artery; that is, both vessels were superficial or deep. In 44 (21.1%) of 209 patients, an asymmetric course was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the incidence of the asymmetric presentations, generalization regarding such a controversial topic should not be based on findings of cadaveric studies and each hemi head should be considered as a single entity. Therefore, advanced imaging systems are useful tools in preoperative planning and play a key role in the avoidance of hemorrhagic complications.
authors.affiliation: Canakkale Military Hospital, Gokceada Surgical Infirmary, Canakkale, Turkey. aydingulses@gmail.com
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulses
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oren
authors.forename: Hasan Ayberk
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Altug
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ilica
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sencimen
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008438:Maxillary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; D011626:Pterygoid Muscles / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*