Clinical and radiological evaluation of the vascular anatomy of face

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the course of some branches of the external carotid artery and internal carotid artery according to reference points on the face and to determine the variations between genders and right &left sides of the face in individuals who underwent carotid CT angiography. Method:60 individuals aged between 21 and 55 who had no traumatic or congenital deformity and no history of previous maxillofacial or cranial surgery were included to the study. Facial artery, superior labial artery, angular artery, lateral nasal artery,dorsal nasal artery, superficial temporal artery and frontal branch of superficial temporal artery were evaluated in individuals. Morphometric measurements regarding the distance of the arteries to reference points determined on the face and qualitative evaluations regarding the presence of the arteries were performed. Gender and right-left comparisons regarding the recorded data were analyzed with the SPSS program. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The distance of facial artery to the angle of mandible was found to be higher in males than in females on the right and left sides (p=0.013, p=0.025). The distance of facial artery to the oral commissure was found to be higher on the right side than on the left side (p=0.001). On the left side of the face, the distance of the facial artery to the oral commissure was found to be higher in females than in males (p=0.022). In males, the distance of facial artery to oral commissure was found to be higher on the right side than on the left side (p<0.001). The distance of facial artery from the midline on the level of the base of mandible was found to be higher on the right side than on the left side (p=0.014). On the right side the distance of facial artery from the midline on the level of the base of mandible was found to be higher in males than in females (p=0.008). The lenght of the right and left superior labial arteries along the vermilion border was found to be longer in males than in females (p=0.026, p=0.021). The distance of the origin of the superior labial artery to the oral commissure was found to be higher than on the right side than on the left side (p=0.011). In females, the distance of the origin of the superior labial artery to the oral commissure was found to be higher on the right side than on the left side (p=0.045). In males, the level of the superior labial artery compared to the oral commissure was found to be different on the right and left sides (p=0.006, p=0.017). The frequency of presence of angular artery was found to be higher on the right side than on the left side (p=0.019). In females,the level of the bifurcation point of the superficial temporal artery relative to the zygomatic arch was determined to be different on the right and left sides (p=0.005). It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference the frequency of superficial temporal artery that was located above the zygomatic arch between the right and left sides (p=0.002). In the whole population and females the frequency of presence of frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery was found to be higher on the left side than on the right side (p=0.003, p=0.002). Conclusion:There are variations in the course and frequency of presence of the arteries supplying the face between different facial halves and genders. We think that this study will assist clinicians in procedures related to facial region to achieve safety and effective results. Keywords: CT angiography, Facial region, Vascular anatomy