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Foramen tympanicum prevalence in the population of Southeast Brazil: a morphological study in computed tomography scans
Affiliations- Department of Biosciences, Anatomy Division, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Social Dentistry, Forensic Dentistry Division, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Basic Sciences Department, Araçatuba Dental School, Paulista State University – UNESP, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
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Abstract
Background: The foramen tympanicum is located on the anteroinferior region of the external acoustic meatus and posteromedial to the temporomandibular joint in children between the 1st and the 5th year of life. It is considered an anatomical variation when it persists in adults. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence as well as to characterise the foramen tympanicum in computed tomography (CT) scans of the population from southeastern part of Brazil.
Materials and methods: A total of 78 CT scans of dry human skulls (20 female and 58 male) were used, which were selected randomly regarding the ages, ranged from 15 to 100 years. The foramen tympanicum was identified in the images of the axial plane and confirmed in the images of the coronal and sagittal planes. The largest diameter (in mm) was obtained. The descriptive statistics (in %), Fisher’s test and χ2 test were performed to compare the prevalence of foramen tympanicum between sexes and sides. The probability value ≤ 0.05 was defined as a level of significance. Descriptive statistics were performed to verify the mean diameter of the foramen on the right and left sides of the skulls.
Results: The prevalence of foramen tympanicum was higher in females (p = 0.0070), bilaterally, as the absolute values of females were lower in relation to males. Fisher’s exact test showed that the prevalence of foramen tympanicum was significantly higher in females (45%) than in males (15.52%). On the right side, the mean axial diameter was 2.23 mm (range 0.93–3.75 mm). On the left side, the mean axial diameter was 2.22 mm (range 0.9–3.61 mm).
Conclusions: The knowledge of anatomical variations is extremely valuable for an accurate diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis and a thorough preoperative assessment.
Abstract
Background: The foramen tympanicum is located on the anteroinferior region of the external acoustic meatus and posteromedial to the temporomandibular joint in children between the 1st and the 5th year of life. It is considered an anatomical variation when it persists in adults. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence as well as to characterise the foramen tympanicum in computed tomography (CT) scans of the population from southeastern part of Brazil.
Materials and methods: A total of 78 CT scans of dry human skulls (20 female and 58 male) were used, which were selected randomly regarding the ages, ranged from 15 to 100 years. The foramen tympanicum was identified in the images of the axial plane and confirmed in the images of the coronal and sagittal planes. The largest diameter (in mm) was obtained. The descriptive statistics (in %), Fisher’s test and χ2 test were performed to compare the prevalence of foramen tympanicum between sexes and sides. The probability value ≤ 0.05 was defined as a level of significance. Descriptive statistics were performed to verify the mean diameter of the foramen on the right and left sides of the skulls.
Results: The prevalence of foramen tympanicum was higher in females (p = 0.0070), bilaterally, as the absolute values of females were lower in relation to males. Fisher’s exact test showed that the prevalence of foramen tympanicum was significantly higher in females (45%) than in males (15.52%). On the right side, the mean axial diameter was 2.23 mm (range 0.93–3.75 mm). On the left side, the mean axial diameter was 2.22 mm (range 0.9–3.61 mm).
Conclusions: The knowledge of anatomical variations is extremely valuable for an accurate diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis and a thorough preoperative assessment.
Keywords
temporomandibular joint, computed tomography, anatomy, foramen tympanicum, Huschke’s foramen, tridimensional morphometry
About this articleTitle
Foramen tympanicum prevalence in the population of Southeast Brazil: a morphological study in computed tomography scans
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
1042-1046
Published online
2021-09-10
Page views
4185
Article views/downloads
645
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2022;81(4):1042-1046.
Keywords
temporomandibular joint
computed tomography
anatomy
foramen tympanicum
Huschke’s foramen
tridimensional morphometry
Authors
T. M.C. Ribeiro
A. R. Freire
E. Daruge Junior
P. R. Botacin
F. B. Prado
A. C. Rossi
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