Prevalence and morphometric analysis of the retromolar canal in a Spanish population sample: a helical CT scan study.

BACKGROUND: The retromolar canal (RMC) is an anatomical variation of the mandibular canal (MC) whose identification and study should be considered given its implication in the surgical procedures of the retromolar area. The prevalence of the RMC widely varies according to previous studies and may be influenced by the followed study method. This work aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the RMC in a Spanish population sample. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this purpose, 225 CT scan images (with a higher resolution than the cone beam CT used in other previous studies) from the Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia were analyzed. The Osirix MD radiological image analysis system was applied to a…