title: Prevalence of the posterior superior alveolar canal in cone beam computed tomography scans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was primarily aimed at determining the prevalence of the posterior superior alveolar (PSA) canal in cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans in a North American population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cone beam computed tomography scans were selected on the basis of predetermined eligibility criteria from a pool of 976 data sets. Two calibrated examiners assessed the presence of PSA canal on the postero-lateral wall of the maxillary sinus using coronal sections. One examiner also recorded the presence of images compatible with sinus disease. Associations between the presence of PSA canal and sinus disease were investigated for males and females separately using statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 254 CBCT scans were selected. The pooled prevalence of the PSA canal in CBCT scans was 94.4% and 91% on the right and left side, respectively. The ability to detect the presence of the canal was not significantly affected by the presence of intrasinusal disease. Males are more likely than females to present signs of maxillary sinus pathoses on the right (63.3% vs. 36.7%) and the left side (59.2% vs. 40.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of the PSA canal on CBCT images in the selected population is high. The PSA canal can be consistently visualized on CBCT scans with a high level of reproducibility regardless of the presence of radiographic signs of intrasinusal pathoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology & Medicine, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Sindhura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anamali
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avila-Ortiz
authors.forename: Satheesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elangovan
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruprecht
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: Veeratrishul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allareddy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: cone beam computed tomography; dental implants; maxillary sinus; posterior superior alveolar artery; posterior superior alveolar canal