The sinuous canal’s lateroantral course and duplication

Abstract

The canalis sinuosus (CS) branches from the infraorbital canal (IOC) and carries the anterior superior alveolar nerve (ASAN) mainly distributed to the upper frontal teeth. Common descriptions indicate a single CS with an infraorbital initial segment, continuing with a transverse facial course within the anterior antral wall. It is reported here a case which was documented in Cone Beam Computed Tomography in which, on one side, the initial course of the CS was not superior to the antrum, but lateral to it. On the opposite side the CS was duplicated. Such variations of the CS should not be ignored during surgical approaches of the maxillary sinus walls, especially of the canine fossa.