Observation of the posterior superior alveolar artery in the maxillary tuberosity region by computed tomography angiography: Pilot study using Japanese cadaveric specimens

• Published in: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, medicine, and pathology Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 108 - 114
• Main Authors: Uchida, Yuki, Shibata, Kentaro, Kuraoka, Akio, Uchida, Naoko, Aijima, Reona, Danjo, Atsushi, Yamashita, Yoshio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Bleeding; Computed tomography angiography; Independent branching; Joint branching; Posterior superior alveolar artery; Computed tomography angiography; Independent branching; Joint branching; Posterior superior alveolar artery; Bleeding
• ISSN: 2212-5558; 2212-5566
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoms.2021.08.004

This study aimed to examine the anatomical features of the posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA) before it diverged from the maxillary artery (MA) and entered the posterior superior alveolar foramen in a cadaveric specimen using computed tomography angiography (CTA). The participants were 15 Japanese cadavers (21 hemi-heads). A contrast medium was injected from the external carotid artery of the specimen, and the CTA of the maxillary region was obtained. The data were processed using measurement software to examine the running pattern of the PSAA and determine the position of the PSAA origin. Two branching patterns of the PSAA origin from the MA were identified: joint branching with the infraorbital artery in 10 hemi-heads (47.6 %) and independent branching from the MA in 11 hemi-heads (52.4 %). The vertical distance from the maxillary alveolar crest of the maxillary tuberosity to the origin was 26.1 ± 3.7 mm for the joint branching pattern and 27.1 ± 4.3 mm for the independent branching pattern. The horizontal distance from the infrazygomatic crest to the origin for joint and independent branching was 24.4 ± 3.4 mm and 25.2 ± 2.8 mm, respectively. This result will be useful for CTA examination and surgery in the relevant area.