Bilateral mandibular accessory foramina and canals: a case report and review of the literature

Objectives: To present a case of bilateral mandibular accessory canals and foramina observed on CT and review the relevant literature. Results: Based on the literature, accessory canals and foramina are prevale nt in the posterior mandible and the area of the symphysis and more frequen tly on the internal than the external surface of the mandible. Bilateral sy mmetry is common. Variations exist ill size and number. Occurrence may chan ge with age and racial origin. Nerves, neurovascular bundles, arterioles an d venules have been found to occupy the accessory canals and foramina. No g ender differences have been described. Conclusion: CT has advantages over two-dimensional radiography in identific ation of anatomical variations in the mandible.