Abstract
Inferior alveolar canal (IAC) is an important anatomical landmark in dentistry. It is a bony canal in the mandible, one on each side and transmit inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle. However, it has been reported to have anatomical variations in its course. IAC is visible on radiographs and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been identified as the one of the best methods to assess IAC preoperatively. An interesting case of IAC anatomy in a CBCT is presented here. There were accessory mandibular foramina, retromolar foramina on both sides, accessory mental foramen on the right side and lingual foramina in the midline as well as on the body of the mandible. The IAC was showing several branching within ramus as well as in the body of the mandible. This case report highlights the possible anatomical variations and importance of careful assessment of IAC in dental and maxillofacial procedures which can cause damage to the neurovascular bundle.
References
Sinnatamby CS, Last RJ (2011) Last’s anatomy: regional and applied, 11th edn. Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, Edinburgh
Tammisalo T, Happonen R, Tammisalo E (1992) Stereographic assessment of mandibular canal in relation to the roots of impacted lower third molar using multiprojection narrow beam radiography. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 21(2):85–89
Langlais R, Broadus R, Glass B (1985) Bifid mandibular canals in panoramic radiographs. J Am Dent Assoc 110(6):923–926
Oliveira-Santos C, Capelozza A, Dezzoti M, Fischer C, Poleti M, Rubira-Bullen I (2011) Visibility of the mandibular canal on CBCT cross-sectional images. J Appl Oral Sci 19(3):240–243
Juodzbalys G, Wang H, Sabalys G (2010) Anatomy of mandibular vital structures part I: mandibular canal and inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle in relation with dental implantology. J Oral Maxillofac Res 1(1):e2
Renton T (2010) Prevention of iatrogenic inferior alveolar nerve injuries in relation to dental procedures. Dent Update 37(6):350–363
Ayad C (2013) Characterization of inferior alveolar canal in sudanese populations using orthopantomography. Int J Med Imaging 1(3):39
Jung Y, Cho B (2014) Radiographic evaluation of the course and visibility of the mandibular canal. Imaging Sci Dent 44(4):273
Nair U, Yazdi M, Nayar G, Parry H, Nair M, Katkar R (2013) Configuration of the inferior alveolar canal as detected by cone beam computed tomography. J Conserv Dent 16(6):518
Levine M, Goddard A, Dodson T (2007) Inferior alveolar nerve canal position: a clinical and radiographic study. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 65(3):470–474
Anderson LC, Kosinski TF, Mentag PJ (1991) A review of the intraosseous course of the nerves of the mandible. J Oral Implantol 17(4):394–403 (PMID: 1813647)
Rashsuren O, Choi J, Han W, Kim E (2014) Assessment of bifid and trifidmandibular canals using cone-beam computed tomography. Imaging Sci Dent 44(3):229
Naitoh M, Hiraiwa Y, Aimiya H, Ariji E (2009) Observation of bifid mandibular canal using cone-beam computerized tomography. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 24(1):155–159 (PMID: 19344041)
Leite G, Lana J, de Carvalho MV, Manzi F, Souza P, Horta M (2013) Anatomic variations and lesions of the mandibular canal detected by cone beam computed tomography. Surg Radiol Anat 36(8):795–804
Patil S, Matsuda Y, Nakajima K, Araki K, Okano T (2013) Retromolar canals as observed on cone-beam computed tomography: their incidence, course, and characteristics. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 115(5):692–699
Ossenberg N (1987) Retromolar foramen of the human mandible. Am J Phys Anthropol 73(1):119–128
Gunasena C, Madurapperuma M, Anupama S, Hettiarachchi P, Jayasinghe R (2021) Bifurcation of the mandibular canal-radiological appreciation of a rare anatomical variation-report of 3 cases and review of the literature. Sri Lanka Anat J 5(1):29
Kawai T, Asaumi R, Kumazawa Y, Sato I, Yosue T (2013) Observation of the temporal crest canal in the mandibular ramus by cone beam computed tomography and macroscopic study. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg 9(2):295–299
Mizbah K, Gerlach N, Maal T, Bergé S, Meijer G (2011) The clinical relevance of bifid and trifid mandibular canals. Oral Maxillofac Surg 16(1):147–151
Carter RB, Keen EN (1971) The intra-mandibular course of the inferior alveolar nerve. J Anat 108:433–440
Juodzbalys G, Wang H, Sabalys G (2010) Anatomy of mandibular vital structures part II: mandibular incisive canal, mental foramen and associated neurovascular bundles in relation with dental implantology. J Oral Maxillofac Res 1(1):e2
Fukami K, Shiozaki K, Mishima A, Kuribayashi A, Hamada Y, Kobayashi K (2012) Bifid mandibular canal: confirmation of limited cone beam CT findings by gross anatomical and histological investigations. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 41(6):460–465
Kaufman E, Serman NJ, Wang PD (2000) Bilateral mandibular accessory foramina and canals: a case report and review of the literature. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 29(3):170–175
Lew K, Townsend G (2006) Failure to obtain adequate anaesthesia associated with a bifid mandibular canal: a case report. Aust Dent J 51(1):86–90
Kütük N, Demirbaş A, Gönen Z, Topan C, Kiliç E, Etöz O et al (2013) Anterior mandibular zone safe for implants. J Craniofacial Surg 24(4):e405–e408
Prabodha L, Nanayakkara B (2009) The position, dimensions and morphological variations of mental foramen in mandibles. Galle Med J 11(1):13
Ilayperuma I, Nanayakkara G, Palahepitiya N (2009) Morphometric analysis of the mental foramen in adult Sri Lankan mandibles. Int J Morphol 27(4):1019–1024
Nanayakkara D, Sampath H, Manawaratne R, Peiris R, Vadysinghe A, Arambawatte K et al (2018) Positional variation and localization of the mental foramen. MOJ Anat Physiol 5(1):43–48. https://doi.org/10.15406/mojap.2018.05.00162
Acknowledgements
None
Funding
None
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
We declare that we have no conflicts of interest.
Human and animal rights statement
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the any of the authors.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Angammana, R., Jayasinghe, R. Bilateral Inferior Alveolar Canal Variations Detected by Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Case Report. J. Maxillofac. Oral Surg. 22, 365–370 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-023-01865-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-023-01865-z