Evaluation of the posterior superior alveolar artery canal by cone-beam computed tomography in a sample of the Egyptian population

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting the posterior superior alveolar (PSA) artery canal in a sample of the Egyptian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT images of 600 maxillary sinuses of patients were examined for the presence or absence of the PSA artery along the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus, and for the diameter and type of the canal in relation to age and sex. The distances from the canal to the alveolar crest and sinus floor were also measured. Each canal was assessed to determine whether it was bifid. RESULTS: The PSA artery canal could be detected in 92.0% of the sinuses. The mean distance from the inferior border of the PSA artery canal to the sinus floor was 8.2±2.2 mm (range, 3.2–13.6 mm) in males and 7.3±2.1 mm (range, 3.0–13.1 mm) in females. The mean distance from the inferior border of the PSA artery canal to the alveolar crest was 18.2±2.7 mm (range, 11.0–23.9 mm) in males and 17.4±2.3 mm (range, 10.8–23.5 mm) in females. The mean diameter of the PSA artery canal was larger in male subjects. The PSA artery canal was bifid in 8.7% of cases. The most frequently observed location of the PSA artery canal was intraosseous (82.2%). CONCLUSION: CBCT was confirmed to be a valuable tool for evaluation and localization of the PSA artery before maxillary sinus lift surgery to avoid intraoperative bleeding.