Anatomical structure of lingual foramen in cone beam computed tomography

Ki, Min Woo; Hwang, Eui Hwan; Lee, Sang Rae

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate whether cone beam computed tomography can depict the distribution, position, frequency, relative vertical dimension, and the diameter of the lingual foramen and direction of lingual bone canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography of mandible was performed on 25 males and 25 females with no history of any orthodontic treatments or any other dental surgeries. A statistical comparison was done on the mean values of males and females. RESULTS: In the location and distribution of lingual foramina, median lingual foramen was found in all subjects and lateral lingual foramen in 58%. In the lateral lingual foramen, bilateral type was found in 28% and unilateral type in 30%. In the number of lingual foramina, median lingual foramen had two foramina and lateral lingual foramen had one foramen, mostly. In the relative mean vertical dimension of lingual foramina, median lingual foramen was 0.03+/-0.08, and both lateral lingual foramina was 0.20+/-0.04. The mean diameter of lingual foramina, median lingual foramen was 0.9 mm+/-0.28, right lateral lingual foramen was 0.92 mm+/-0.23, and left lateral lingual foramen was 0.88 mm+/-0.27. The most frequent direction of the lingual bone canals, median lingual bone canal proceeded in anteroinferior direction and lateral lingual bone canal in anterosuperolateral direction. CONCLUSION: Cone beam computed tomography can be helpful for surgery and implantation on the mandibular area. Radiologist should be aware of this anatomical feature and its possible implications.