title: Cone beam computed tomography imaging of ponticulus posticus: prevalence, characteristics, and a review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of ponticulus posticus (PP) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to describe the radiologic characteristics of the detected cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence and types of PP were investigated on 730 CBCT images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PP was found in 17.4% (127) of the 730 CBCT scans. Of these 127 patients, 79 (10.8%) had bilateral PP and 48 (6.6%) had unilateral PP. Male predominance was found with a prevalence of 19.5% (54 of 277) and female prevalence was 16.1% (73 of 453). The prevalence of PP increased with age; the highest prevalence of PP was seen in those who were 49 to 81 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that PP is not an uncommon anatomic variation and is a natural incidental finding on CBCT.
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Sevki
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Bayrakdar
authors.affiliation: Associated Professor, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. Electronic address: omiloglu@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Miloglu
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oguzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gumussoy
authors.affiliation: Specialist, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dogan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durna
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Berhan
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies