Radiologic and cadaveric spatial relation between nasopalatine canal and the middle turbinate axilla

This study aims to describe the spatial relation (SR) between the nasopalatine canal (NPC) and the septal projection of the middle turbinate axilla (MTA-SP), 2 anatomical landmarks used in rhinology.

A retrospective study was conducted in patients who underwent a cone bean computed tomography. Two radiological measurements were assessed by 2 examiners: the distance between the perpendicular line corresponding to the MTA-SP to the posterior border of the NPC and the distance between the anterior and posterior border of the NPC. Also, an anatomical dissection was performed on a cadaveric head and NPC was cannulated to visually assess the SR through a radiological reconstruction.

Among 30 patients, 14 females and 16 males with a mean age of 46.6 (SD 18.8) years, the mean distance between the perpendicular line corresponding to the MTA-SP to the posterior border of the NPC was -0.08 mm (SD 2.4 mm) and the mean distance between the anterior and posterior border of the NSP was 2.7 mm (SD 1.4 mm).

The septal projection of the middle turbinate axilla is above and slightly in front to the NPC, at a mean distance of 0.08 mm. Understanding this relationship provides essential information about structure and spatial orientation of the nasal cavity.