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Canalis sinuosus: anatomical variation or structure?

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Abstract

Purpose

The main goal of the present study was to verify the presence, spatial location, the end of the canalis sinuosus (CS) trajectory and size of CS using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to characterise it as either a structure or an anatomical variation.

Methods

A trained examiner specialist in dental radiology and imagenology selected 200 CBCT images of the maxilla from 107 (53.5%) female and 93 (46.5%) male individuals aged between 18 and 85 years.

Results

A total of 133 (66.5%) patients had CS, being 61 (45.86%) unilateral and 72 (54.14%) bilateral. A higher frequency of CS was observed in males (P < 0.05) and no relationship was found between its presence and age. The end of the CS trajectory was more frequent in the regions of central incisor (n = 91; 44.39%), followed by lateral incisor (n = 45; 21.95%) and canine (n = 29; 14.15%). In our sample, the majority of these canals had a diameter of up to 1 mm (n = 198/205; 96.6%). No statistically significant relationship between diameter and the end of the CS trajectory, with location (i.e. bilateral or unilateral) was found. Gender and age had no influence on diameter, spatial location and the end of the CS trajectory (P > 0.05%).

Conclusion

As CS was frequently found in our sample, it can be considered an anatomical structure, and as such, it is fundamental that the dentist requests a CBCT examination before performing any invasive procedure in the maxillary region to preserve this important structure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dentistry of the City of São Paulo University, UNICID, R. Melo Peixoto, 1407, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Renata Aoki, Mariana Massuda & Karin Sá Fernandes

  2. Valler Zenni Clinical Radiology, R. Cônego Tomás Fontes, 144, Itajaí, SC, Brazil

    Lysiane Tereza Valler Zenni

Authors
  1. Renata Aoki
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  2. Mariana Massuda
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  3. Lysiane Tereza Valler Zenni
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  4. Karin Sá Fernandes
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Correspondence to Karin Sá Fernandes.

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Aoki, R., Massuda, M., Zenni, L.T.V. et al. Canalis sinuosus: anatomical variation or structure?. Surg Radiol Anat 42, 69–74 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02352-2

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