Etoz Meryem, Sisman Yıldıray
Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey,
Surg Radiol Anat. 2014 Oct;36(8):805-12. doi: 10.1007/s00276-014-1259-9. Epub 2014 Feb 2.
Although nasopalatine canal (NPC) is one of the most important anatomical structures in premaxillary region, few documents are available with regard to anatomic variations, size, and morphology of NPC in the literature. In recent years, the need for radiological identification of anatomical structures has grown with increased dental implant applications in anterior maxillary region with higher esthetic expectations. This study aimed at investigating the NPC's shape and anatomical variations by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the Turkish society, in a particular region.
A total of 500 individual CBCT images were investigated in terms of morphological, dimensional, and anatomical features of NPC. In addition, the width of incisive foramen (IF) and foramina of Stenson were evaluated.
There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.234) between women and men in terms of NPC shape. Morphological assessment of NPC revealed that 38.78 % of NPCs were hourglass-like in shape, 27.35 % of canals were funnel-shaped, 9.18 % of canals were conical shaped, and 8.25 % of canals were cylindrical shaped. The mean IF width and NPC length was found as 5.06 and 12.59 mm, respectively. And the mean canal length was found significantly longer in men than women (p < 0.001).
It has been shown that NPC has a lot of anatomical variations with regard to its dimensions as well as its morphological appearance. Therefore, identification of the anatomical structure of this region with two- and three-dimensional imaging techniques maybe thought to be important in facilitating surgical management and preventing possible complications.
尽管鼻腭管（NPC）是上颌前部区域最重要的解剖结构之一，但关于NPC的解剖变异、大小和形态的文献报道较少。近年来，随着对上颌前部区域种植牙美学期望的提高，对解剖结构进行放射学识别的需求也日益增加。本研究旨在通过锥形束计算机断层扫描（CBCT）调查土耳其特定地区人群中NPC的形状和解剖变异。
共对500例个体的CBCT图像进行了NPC形态、尺寸和解剖特征方面的研究。此外，还评估了切牙孔（IF）和斯滕森孔的宽度。
NPC形状在男性和女性之间无统计学显著差异（p = 0.234）。NPC的形态学评估显示，38.78%的NPC呈沙漏状，27.35%的管道呈漏斗状，9.18%的管道呈圆锥形，8.25%的管道呈圆柱形。IF平均宽度和NPC长度分别为5.06和12.59毫米。男性的平均管道长度显著长于女性（p < 0.001）。
研究表明，NPC在尺寸和形态外观方面存在许多解剖变异。因此，利用二维和三维成像技术识别该区域的解剖结构对于促进手术管理和预防可能的并发症可能具有重要意义。
