Systematic review and meta-analysis of lingual foramina anatomy and surgical-related aspects on cone-beam computed tomography: a PROSPERO-registered study

• Published in: Oral radiology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 1 - 16
• Main Authors: Barbosa, Daniel Almeida Ferreira, de Mendonça, Diego Santiago, de Carvalho, Francisco Samuel Rodrigues, Kurita, Lúcio Mitsuo, de Barros Silva, Paulo Goberlânio, Neves, Frederico Sampaio, Costa, Fábio Wildson Gurgel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Computed tomography; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography - methods; Dentistry; Female; Humans; Imaging; Male; Mandible; Mandible - anatomy & histology; Mandible - diagnostic imaging; Medicine; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Prevalence; Radiology; Review Article; Reviews; Statistical analysis; Systematic review; Tomography; Young Adult; Cone-beam computed tomography; Systematic review; Lingual foramina
• ISSN: 0911-6028; 1613-9674
• DOI: 10.1007/s11282-021-00516-8

Purpose This study aimed to summarize the evidence regarding lingual foramen (LF) characteristics using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods A registered systematic review (#42,019,145,962) was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements. An electronic search without date or language restrictions was performed in five databases, including grey literature (Google Scholar and ProQuest). The Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used to evaluate the selected studies. Results A total of 6641 articles were identified, and 26 studies (8255 CBCT scans) were selected after a three-step selection process. There was a female predominance, and age ranged between 10 and 93 years. A total of 4336 LFs were observed among men ( n  = 2042) and women ( n  = 2294). Of this LF-related sample, 43.5% of the studies were from Asia, followed by Europe (33.5%), North America (14%), and South America (9%). Different distances from the LF to the alveolar crest (11.04–20.4 mm), buccal (4.73–4.91 mm), and lingual (8.75 mm) cortices and the inferior border of the mandible (8.48–26.59 mm) were evaluated. Conclusion In summary, this systematic review found that LF is an anatomical structure with a high prevalence among the included studies (greater than 90%), regardless of the population evaluated. The occurrence of at least one LF was the most common pattern.