Elsevier

Journal of Endodontics

Volume 26, Issue 2, February 2000, Pages 107-110
Journal of Endodontics

Case Report
Endodontic Considerations of the Nasopalatine Duct Region

https://doi.org/10.1097/00004770-200002000-00012Get rights and content

Although rare, anomalies of the nasopalatine region have been reported in the literature mimicking pathoses of endodontic origin. The purpose of this article is to present a case of a patent nasopalatine duct that was originally diagnosed as a sinus tract and referred for endodontic therapy. A review of the anatomy of the nasopalatine region is also discussed.

Section snippets

CASE REPORT

A 42-yr-old male was referred to the Endodontics Department, Naval Dental School (Bethesda, MD) to evaluate a possible sinus tract on the palate associated with the maxillary right central incisor. The patient was asymptomatic and had no knowledge that there was anything present on his palate. A review of his past dental history revealed that he had traumatized the anterior area ∼25 years previously and the maxillary right central incisor had been endodontically treated. In 1994, he noticed

DISCUSSION

Radiographically, the usually singular nasopalatine foramen may actually present as up to six separate foramina. This separation occurs most commonly as two foramina with separate left and right neurovascular bundles. There may also be separation of the neural and vascular components into three or four foramina. The foramina carrying the vascular components are called the foramina of Scarpa. Additionally the afferent and efferent vessels may separate for a possibility of up to four foramina of

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