A new anatomical variation in ramus: the sigmoid canal

Abstract

During the radiological examination with CBCT of the patient who complained of joint pain, a structure with a length of 8.1 mm and a diameter of 0.6 mm was detected, starting from the sigmoid notch and descending down the ramus. The patient was unaware of the existence of this structure, and moreover, the patient did not show any symptoms. There was doubt as to whether the observed structure was an anatomical variation or a pathological phenomenon, and MRI was used to determine its content. It was realized that the structure imaged by MRI carried a branch of the maxillary artery. This structure was called the sigmoid canal. It was noteworthy that this anatomical structure was likely to cause complications in surgical interventions.