The lumbar epidural region was studied using computerized tomography. This technique allows examination of the region in vivo. It confirmed that the spinal canal is oval in the upper lumbar region, becoming triangular lower down, and that the ligamenta flava form a posterior recess to the vertebral canal. Epidural fat is confined to this region between the ligamenta flava and the intervertebral...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Congenital causes of hearing loss in children commonly are encountered, and imaging aids in diagnosis as well as presurgical evaluation. Atresia of the oval window not associated with atresia of the external auditory canal (EAC) is a rare cause of congenital hearing loss in children. We present the clinical and imaging findings in children with isolated oval-window atresi...

AIM To introduce a new concept, the self-adjusting file (SAF), and discuss its unique features compared with current rotary nickel-titanium file systems. THE NEW CONCEPT The SAF file is hollow and designed as a thin cylindrical nickel-titanium lattice that adapts to the cross-section of the root canal. A single file is used throughout the procedure. It is inserted into a path initially prepar...

This study investigated the effect of direction of file oscillation on the amount of debris and smear remaining within oval canals. Sixty-five lower premolars were allocated to six experimental groups (n = 10) and one control group (n = 5). Canals were prepared using Gates Glidden burs and hand instruments. Preparations were completed using either an ultrasonic size 15 K file or a sonic size 15...

PURPOSE To determine CT findings in the external, middle, and inner ear of patients with microtia and external auditory canal dysplasia. METHODS We used high-resolution CT, with multiplanar or axial 1-mm continuous sections, coronal or sagittal reformations, or low-dose spiral acquisitions, to examine 184 temporal bones of children with microtia. RESULTS In cases of minor microtia, auditory...

An oval-shaped mass with a smooth surface was found in the ear canal of a 22-month-old male infant. Although the mass appeared to be almost entirely blocking the ear canal, it was successfully removed under a surgical microscope without general anesthesia at the outpatient department. Under an optical microscope with hematoxylin and eosin staining, the specimen was observed to have a cuticle wi...

A detailed understanding of the complexity of root canal systems is imperative to ensure successful root canal therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system in imaging root canal walls after endodontic preparation and to correlate these images to histologic sections. Ten extracted mandibular incisors were prepared to size 50 with K-fi...

BACKGROUND This study sought to compare the root canal debridement ability of Neolix, Reciproc and ProTaper rotary systems in long oval-shaped root canals. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty five extracted single-rooted human teeth with long oval-shaped single root canals were selected and divided into three experimental groups(n=25) and one control group (n= 10). Root canals were filled with Vitape...

Background This study aimed to describe the anatomy of maxillary canines from a Western Mexican sub-population using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Material and Methods Maxillary canines (n=32) were scanned at 19.6µm voxel resolution. Number and location of canals, the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and apex, occurrence of accessory and lateral canals, presence of oval ca...

3D cleaning, shaping and obturation of root canals has always been the desired goal of endodontic treatment which in many cases is difficult to attain. The introduction of NiTi rotary files made a major change in endodontic practice, making treatment easier, safer and faster. Nevertheless, after 16 years of intensive development, most of these instruments still share several drawbacks, the majo...