Lateral lingual vascular canals of the mandible: a CBCT study of 500 cases.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to use cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients to assess the localization, diameter, and course of the lateral lingual vascular canal (LLVC).

Methods: CBCT (Morita, Accuitomo 170) images from 500 patients were used in the present study. The CBCT images were examined by two oral radiologists. The diameter, localization, and course of the LLVCs were assessed using axial, cross-sectional, and multiplanar reformatted images. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS(®) v. 15 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and t tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Of the 500 patients examined, 163 LLVCs were detected in 124 (24.8 %) cases. The mean diameter of LLVCs on the right side and left side was 0.65 ± 0.18 and 0.64 ± 0.17 mm, respectively. The majority of the LLVCs (n = 106, 83 %) were observed in the premolar region. There was a statistically significant difference between the occurrence of LLVCs in the premolar region and the other areas (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: All the LLVCs observed in this study had a connection with inferior alveolar canal structures. The detection of an LLVC on CBCT images should alert the radiologist and surgeons to the possible presence of collateral arterial and vascular structures.