Anthropometric Dimensions of Nasopalatine Canal measured by Cone Beam Computed Tomography among Kurdish population

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find anatomical variation of nasopalatine foramen (NPF) and nasopalatine canal (NPC) in different age and gender groups among Kurdish people on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. This research included one hundred CBCT images obtained from patients visiting privet clinics with a specialty in dental and maxillofacial radiology in Sulaimani, Hawler, and Dhok governorates within a period between 2014 to 2016. Subjects were divided into three age groups (18-34, 35-49, 50-75) years old. The first group were included 15 males and 15 females, the second group 20 males and 20 females, and the third group included 15 males with 15 females. PaX i vatech digital CBCT machine was used to obtain the images by radiographers. The following measurements were estimated; number of openings of NPC at nasal fossa, mesio-lateral diameter of NPF at nasal fossa (axial section), mesio-lateral diameter of NPF at palatine fossa, anteroposterior dimension of NPC at: its upper border; middle level, and lower border, and lastly the height of NPC in sagittal section. 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females) with age range 31 years were included in this study. 69% had single NPF at the nasal fossa. 23% had two openings, and 8% had three openings. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of the mesio-lateral diameter of NPF at nasal fossa, and palatine fossa were 2.60±0.69mm, and 4.11±2.09mm respectively. NPF diameter at the palatine fossa showed significant differences between genders (P < 0.05). But age group differences did not reach the significant level (P > 0.05). The means and SD of the anteroposterior dimension of NPC were 3.46±1.53mm. There were no significant differences between genders and among age groups concerning this dimension (P > 0.05). Mean and SD of the height of NPC was 13.14±3.11mm. Males demonstrated the significantly greater length of NPC than females (P < 0.05). It is concluded that there is variation in the anatomy and morphology regarding various parameters of NPC among Kurdish population. This should be considered in mind in preoperative planning to reduce the number of complications in implant and other maxillofacial surgeries in the anterior palatine area. Also, it’s obvious that CBCT has an important role in obtaining accurate measurements of NPC different dimensions which have importance to differentiate between normal and abnormal NPC and NPF.