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. 2017 Mar;25(1):34-38.
doi: 10.5455/aim.2017.25.34-38.

Assessment of the Nasopalatine Canal: an Anatomical Study

Ibrahim Nasseh  1 , Georges Aoun  2 , Sayde Sokhn  1
Affiliations

Assessment of the Nasopalatine Canal: an Anatomical Study

Ibrahim Nasseh et al. Acta Inform Med. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomy of the nasopalatine canal in a Lebanese population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) technology.

Materials and methods: CBCT images of 63 Lebanese adult patients were included in this study. The length, shape, diameter of the oral opening corresponding to the incisive foramen and inclination in relation to the hard palate of the nasopalatine canal were analyzed.

Results: Of all canals assessed, 13 were hourglass-shaped, 23 were cylindrical-shaped, 23 were funnel-shaped and 4 were spindle-shaped. The mean canal length and the incisive foramen anteroposterior diameter were respectively 11.52 mm and 4.91 mm. The average canal inclination related to the hard palate was 17.09 degrees.

Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, we conclude that in Lebanese patients, the shape of the nasopalatine canal is variable. No statistical significance was noticed between genders except for the canal length which was found shorter in our female sample.

Keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography; Lebanese population; incisive foramen; nasopalatine canal.

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Conflict of interest statement

• Conflict of interest: none declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CBCT sagittal cut at the level of the premaxilla illustrating the method of determining the length of the NPC and the IF diameter.
Figure 2
Figure 2
CBCT sagittal cuts at the level of the premaxilla illustrating the method of determining the shape of the NPC.
Figure 3
Figure 3
CBCT sagittal cut at the level of the premaxilla illustrating the method of determining the inclination of the NPC; the inclination is measured according to a line parallel to the hard palate.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Scatter plot showing a weak relationship between the NPC length and the IF diameter.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Box plot showing the average length of the NPC for each patient by gender (1,00: Female; 2,00: Male).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Box plot showing the average IF diameter for each patient by gender. (1,00: Female; 2,00: Male).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Box plot showing the average inclination of the NPC related to the hard palate for each patient by gender. (1,00: Female; 2,00: Male).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Box plot showing the difference between observers in terms of inclination evaluation. (1,00: First observer; 2,00: Second observer).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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