Mandibular lingual canals distribute to the dental crypts in prenatal stage.

PURPOSE: To describe configurations of human prenatal mandibular, lingual canals using a limited-field cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to examine their origin and anatomical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine fetal mandibles were examined using a CBCT. Mandibular maturity was assessed according to the mandibular size measured directly and image findings on development of dental crypts. Mandibular, lingual canals and the related foramina (mandibular, mental, and lingual foramina) were observed on axial, sagittal, and cross-sectional images. The horizontal position of mental and lingual foramina was assessed by direct observation using a loupe. RESULTS: In all nine mandibles, CBCT images depicted three separate mandibular canals, which individually occurred at the ramus area. One was a short canal directly connecting to the permanent molar crypt. The other two showed a parallel course, following the mandibular corpus toward the frontal area; the upper one connected to the mental foramen, and the lower one distributed anterior area of canine and incisor crypts. Lingual foramina were observed bilaterally in eight of nine mandibles, whose horizontal position was lingual against the crypt of deciduous canine. The lingual canals occurred from lingual foramina, and connected to the close deciduous tooth crypt or the mandibular canal distributing in the frontal area. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested human dentition could be developed by plural mandibular and lingual canals.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the buccal space resected in combination with coronoidectomy.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon spindle-cell mesenchymal tumor of probable fibroblastic derivation that most often occurs in the pleura, where it is typically benign. This report describes a case of a large SFT that arose in the buccal space, and includes computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET) findings. (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET axial imaging showed weak abnormal accumulation of FDG in the left buccal region. The tumor was located behind the posterior wall of the maxilla, adjacent to the medial aspect of the coronoid process and was compressed between the coronoid and maxillary alveolar processes. We resected it with the use of a transoral approach in combination with coronoidectomy. Coronoidectomy was chosen because it facilitated safe removal of the tumor by improving its visibility and providing enough working space to resect it through a transoral approach.