The Diversity of the Linguofacial Trunk
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Typically, the external carotid artery (ECA) sends off separate anterior branches: the superior thyroid, lingual, and facial arteries. These could, however, form common trunks: thyrolinguofacial, linguofacial (LFT), or thyrolingual. Although known, the L...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/2/291 |
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| author | Cătălin Constantin Dumitru Alexandra Diana Vrapciu Mugurel Constantin Rusu |
| author_facet | Cătălin Constantin Dumitru Alexandra Diana Vrapciu Mugurel Constantin Rusu |
| author_sort | Cătălin Constantin Dumitru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Typically, the external carotid artery (ECA) sends off separate anterior branches: the superior thyroid, lingual, and facial arteries. These could, however, form common trunks: thyrolinguofacial, linguofacial (LFT), or thyrolingual. Although known, the LFT variant was poorly detailed previously, and most authors just counted the variant. We aimed to demonstrate the individual anatomical possibilities of the LFT on a case-by-case basis. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: 150 archived angioCT files were used. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 147 files of 86 males and 61 females were kept for this study. <i>Results</i>: In 34/147 cases, LFTs were found (23.12%). Bilateral LFTs were found in 13/34 cases (38.24%) and unilateral LFTs in 21/34 (61.76%) cases. Forty-seven LFTs were thus identified and further studied for different variables. Regarding the vertical topography of LFT origin, type 1a (suprahyoid and infragonial) was found in 28 LFTs (59.57%), type 1b (suprahyoid and gonial) was found in eight LFTs (17.02%), type 3 (suprahyoid and supragonial) was found in two LFTs (4.25%), type 2 (hyoid level of origin) in eight LFTs (17.02%), and type 3 (infrahyoid origin) in just one LFT (2.12%). Types of the initial course of the LFT were determined: type I, ascending, was found in 22/47 LFTs; type II, descending, in 12/47 LFTs; and type III, transverse, in 13/47 LFTs. Regarding the orientation of the first loop of the LFT, 23/47 LFTs had no loop, 4/47 had anterior loops, 1/47 had a posterior loop, 5/47 had superior loops, 5/47 had inferior loops, and 9/47 had medial loops. The position of the LFT relative to the ECA was classified as medial, anterior, or antero-medial. An amount of 12/47 LFTs were anterior to the ECA, 22/47 were antero-medial, 10/47 were medial, 2/47 were inferior, and 1/47 was lateral. Regarding their general morphology, 23/47 LFTs had a rectilinear course, 22/47 had loops, and 2/47 were coiled. A case-by-case presentation of results further demonstrated the diversity of the LFT. <i>Conclusions</i>: In conclusion, the morphology and topography of the LFT are individually specific and unpredictable. It can be anticipated case-by-case by surgeons on CT or MR angiograms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:22:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-acc7b6dc051741349b1c1423aed831a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:22:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-acc7b6dc051741349b1c1423aed831a42024-02-23T15:26:40ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442024-02-0160229110.3390/medicina60020291The Diversity of the Linguofacial TrunkCătălin Constantin Dumitru0Alexandra Diana Vrapciu1Mugurel Constantin Rusu2Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDivision of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDivision of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Typically, the external carotid artery (ECA) sends off separate anterior branches: the superior thyroid, lingual, and facial arteries. These could, however, form common trunks: thyrolinguofacial, linguofacial (LFT), or thyrolingual. Although known, the LFT variant was poorly detailed previously, and most authors just counted the variant. We aimed to demonstrate the individual anatomical possibilities of the LFT on a case-by-case basis. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: 150 archived angioCT files were used. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 147 files of 86 males and 61 females were kept for this study. <i>Results</i>: In 34/147 cases, LFTs were found (23.12%). Bilateral LFTs were found in 13/34 cases (38.24%) and unilateral LFTs in 21/34 (61.76%) cases. Forty-seven LFTs were thus identified and further studied for different variables. Regarding the vertical topography of LFT origin, type 1a (suprahyoid and infragonial) was found in 28 LFTs (59.57%), type 1b (suprahyoid and gonial) was found in eight LFTs (17.02%), type 3 (suprahyoid and supragonial) was found in two LFTs (4.25%), type 2 (hyoid level of origin) in eight LFTs (17.02%), and type 3 (infrahyoid origin) in just one LFT (2.12%). Types of the initial course of the LFT were determined: type I, ascending, was found in 22/47 LFTs; type II, descending, in 12/47 LFTs; and type III, transverse, in 13/47 LFTs. Regarding the orientation of the first loop of the LFT, 23/47 LFTs had no loop, 4/47 had anterior loops, 1/47 had a posterior loop, 5/47 had superior loops, 5/47 had inferior loops, and 9/47 had medial loops. The position of the LFT relative to the ECA was classified as medial, anterior, or antero-medial. An amount of 12/47 LFTs were anterior to the ECA, 22/47 were antero-medial, 10/47 were medial, 2/47 were inferior, and 1/47 was lateral. Regarding their general morphology, 23/47 LFTs had a rectilinear course, 22/47 had loops, and 2/47 were coiled. A case-by-case presentation of results further demonstrated the diversity of the LFT. <i>Conclusions</i>: In conclusion, the morphology and topography of the LFT are individually specific and unpredictable. It can be anticipated case-by-case by surgeons on CT or MR angiograms.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/2/291carotid arterylingual arteryfacial arteryhyoid bonegonial angleanatomic variation |
| spellingShingle | Cătălin Constantin Dumitru Alexandra Diana Vrapciu Mugurel Constantin Rusu The Diversity of the Linguofacial Trunk Medicina carotid artery lingual artery facial artery hyoid bone gonial angle anatomic variation |
| title | The Diversity of the Linguofacial Trunk |
| title_full | The Diversity of the Linguofacial Trunk |
| title_fullStr | The Diversity of the Linguofacial Trunk |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Diversity of the Linguofacial Trunk |
| title_short | The Diversity of the Linguofacial Trunk |
| title_sort | diversity of the linguofacial trunk |
| topic | carotid artery lingual artery facial artery hyoid bone gonial angle anatomic variation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/2/291 |
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