Prevalence and location of posterior superior alveolar artery in Lebanese population. A retrospective tomography study

Abstract

The position of the posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA) relative to the maxillary sinus walls is crucial. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and positioning of the PSAA in the Lebanese population using Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT). A series of 282 CBCT scans of the maxillary sinus belonging to adult patients of Lebanese ethnicity were enrolled in this study. None of the included patients had sinus pathologies. Radiographic records were inspected for the presence or absence of the PSAA, its relation to the anterolateral wall of the sinus, its diameter, and its distance from sinus floor. Furthermore, three-dimensional segmentation was conducted for better visualization of the course of the artery. The PSAA was detected in 85.8% of 282 sinuses. The artery followed an intraosseous course in 50%, submucosal in 48.7, and an external path in 1.3% of the records. The mean diameter was 1.07 ± 0.47 mm, and the mean vertical distance from the sinus floor was 9.52 ± 4.14 mm. A statistically significant correlation was found between the artery's position and both its diameter and distance from the sinus floor. The PSAA was present in the majority of cases, with significant anatomical variation in its position, diameter, and distance from the sinus floor. These findings highlight the necessity of preoperative CBCT assessment to reduce the risk of vascular complications during sinus-related surgical procedures.