Zygomaticofacial foramen location accuracy and reliability in cone-beam computed tomography

This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of detecting the zygomaticofacial foramen (ZFF) in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

This study evaluated ZFFs in 151 macerated skulls (302 zygomatic bones, ZBs) by physical inspection, in which the presence and diameters of the ZFFs were determined. These data were compared with the CBCT images of the skulls to determine the accuracy of CBCT in detecting ZFFs. The diameters were measured by insertion of steel wires with known thicknesses into the ZFFs. The CBCT images were acquired by an i-CAT Classic® (International Imaging Sciences, Hatfield, PA) connected to a workstation (Model ITOX Midtower Workstation; Imaging Sciences International®) with a 20-inch Eizo monitor. The images were generated in coronal, sagittal and axial slices to evaluate the best tomographic plane for ZFF visualization.

The incidence of ZFF found by physical inspection was one foramen in 44% of ZBs (n = 133), two foramina in 28% (n = 86), three foramina in 8% (n = 24) and four foramina in 1% (n = 2). ZFF was absent in 19% (n = 57) of ZBs. The average diameter was 0.57 mm (± 0.27 mm). All foramina were observed in all tomography images.

This preliminary study supports the conclusion that a CBCT scan has excellent accuracy in evaluating ZFFs.