Anatomic and radiographic features of the maxillary anterior and posterior superior alveolar neurovascular canals are described. These canals contain branches of the maxillary nerve and internal maxillary artery which supply teeth in the maxillary alveolus. The canals produce lucent lines in the maxillary wall which resemble fractures. These lines have been termed “pseudo-fractures”. Fractures tend to appear as straight lines or be angular in direction while pseudofractures are more curvilinear or undulating. Fracture lines extend through the orbital bone margin, pseudofractures do not. Other differentiating features are discussed.
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