Exploring the pterygopalatine fossa: a comprehensive radiological analysis for advancing maxillofacial therapeutics

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to analyze whether the volume of the pterygopalatine fossa will have a significant impact on the qualitative effect of local anesthesia or any other therapeutic procedures through this structure.
Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive retrospective study with a single institutional setting. The study included subjects of age above 18 with quality cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images taken from 2020 to 2023. Descriptive statistics were performed. Volume and sex associations were done through an independent t test, and volume and age associations were done through a Chi-square test. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: A study of 107 patients, excluding 53 females and 54 males, found a significant difference in the mean volumes of the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) between males and females. The average capacity was 717±66.7 cc on the right side and 661±61.6 cc on the left, with a p value less than 0.001.
Conclusion: Accurately assessing the volumetric capacity of the PPF is crucial for local anaesthetic and other therapeutic applications. Males have a significantly larger volume of PPF than females, and semiautomatic CBCT picture segmentation offers a practical and independently tested method.