A Morphometric and radiographic assessment of the incisive fossa: thresholds for improving accuracy of diagnosis

Patrícia Maria Fernandes; Ivan José Correia-Neto; Vinícius Rabelo Torregrossa; Isabel Schausltz Pereira Faustino; Alan Roger Santos-Silva; Ana Cláudia Rossi; Felippe Bevilacqua Prado; Marcio Ajudarte Lopes

doi:10.5327/2525-5711.481

Authors

Patrícia Maria Fernandes Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1714-4505
Ivan José Correia-Neto Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3828-0107
Vinícius Rabelo Torregrossa Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3736-4433
Isabel Schausltz Pereira Faustino Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7542-476X
Alan Roger Santos-Silva Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2040-6617
Ana Cláudia Rossi Department of Morphology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8718-4898
Felippe Bevilacqua Prado Department of Morphology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5636-6915
Marcio Ajudarte Lopes Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas – UNICAMP- Piracicaba, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6677-0065

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/2525-5711.481

Keywords:

Incisive fossa, Nasopalatine duct cyst, Occlusal radiography, Cone-beam computed tomography

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine radiographic measurements of the incisive fossa and to establish thresholds that distinguish normal anatomical variations from possible nasopalatine duct cysts. A morphometric evaluation was carried out using dry human skulls, maxillary occlusal radiographs, and cone beam computed tomography. Methods: Sixty-six dry human skulls were examined through direct measurements and occlusal radiographs. Cone beam computed tomography was performed when the width of the incisive fossa was six millimeters or greater. Width and length values obtained through the three techniques were compared using the Tukey–Kramer test, considering a significance level of p less than 0.05. Results: The mean width and length of the incisive fossa were 5.18 millimeters and 8.22 millimeters in dry skulls, 5.05 millimeters and 9.23 millimeters in occlusal radiographs, and

6.00 millimeters and 6.66 millimeters in cone beam computed tomography. Width values did not differ significantly between dry skulls and radiographs, while length values showed significant differences. Maxillary occlusal radiographs produced reliable width estimates and should be used as the imaging method. Conclusions: The width of the incisive fossa is a critical parameter for distinguishing normal anatomical variations from possible nasopalatine duct cysts. Radiolucent areas measuring 6 mm or less in width represent normal anatomical variations, whereas widths between 6 and 10 mm require further evaluation, and widths greater than 10 mm suggest nasopalatine duct cysts.

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