Morphometric aspects and proposal of a new classification of genial tubercles in cone-beam computed tomography in a Brazilian population

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated epidemiological and morphological aspects of genial tubercles (GTs) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: This retrospective, observational and cross-sectional study evaluated 276 tomographs of adult dentate individuals (18–69 years). The presence and absence of GTs were evaluated, and in cases in which this structure was observed, linear measurements (length, height, and width), and anatomical distances. In addition, a GT classification was proposed based on the presence, number, and location of the tubercles. Results: Of the 276 CT scans, 28 (10.14%) had absence of GTs and in 248 CT scans GTs were present, of which 42 (57.5%) were from females and 106 (42.5%) from males. Regarding the number of GTS, the most prevalent variant was the two-tubercle-variant (143, 57.7%), followed by the presence of a single tubercle (n = 62, 25.0%), 3 tubercles (n = 40, 16.1%) and 4 tubercles (n = 3, 1.2%). The most prevalent classification was IIIA (n = 96, 38.7%), followed by IIIB (n = 60, 36.3%), IIA (n = 53, 21.4%) and IIB (n = 9, 3.6%). Conclusion: A prevalence of GT of approximately 90% was observed, with two GTs per exam as the most frequent finding. Men had a longer mean GT length compared to women. Female individuals exhibited a shorter distance from the base of the GT to the base of the mandible.

Keywords

• Genial tubercle
• Cone-beam computed tomography
• Mandible
• Anatomy