Simultaneous observation and discrimination of palatovaginal and vomerovaginal canals by transverse CT.

This study is to palatovaginal canal and vomerovaginal canal identify by computed tomography (CT) transverse imaging and are often mislabeled by investigators. We used a probe guide method in skull specimens to establish the CT imaging features of the two canals. We also used endoscopy to look deeply into the inside structure of them. Finally, CT images of patients were used to confirm our findings. Based on our results using 20 skull specimens and 70 patients, we established a simple method that can be used to identify the two canals on CT transverse imaging. In the transverse images of skull specimens and of patients, the frequency of simultaneous observation of the two canals was 72.5% and 70.71%. We also identified several mislabeled images of the palatovaginal and vomerovaginal canals in published papers. In summary, we found that the two canals could be observed and distinguished by transverse CT imaging. Furthermore, we established a method that could distinguish them. In conclusion, our findings will have a great impact not only on the accurate identification of the pterygoid canals but also on the early detection of tumor metastasis and palatine artery embolization.