Foreign bodies in the maxillofacial region: assessment with MDCT

Publication date: Available online 4 November 2014 Source:Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI Author(s): Alfonso Reginelli , Mario Santagata , Fabrizio Urraro , Francesco Somma , Andrea Izzo , Salvatore Cappabianca , Antonio Rotondo Maxillo-facial region is an anatomically complex district, representing a crossroads of different systems and apparatus. It is defined as the anatomical region laying on the facial skeleton from the inferior outline of maxilla up to an ideal plane passing through the skull base and the inion point, posteriorly. In this area, the digestive and respiratory systems connect to themselves and open in the mouth and sino-nasal cavities. Even the orbits with the ocular globes and their surrounding tissues lays in the same area. Despite the little exposed surface, the chance of penetrating injuries to this site is at least similar to other regions of the body due to the “pivotal role” of the face in human relations. Moreover, the external opening of respiratory and digestive system such as the orbital cavities represent an easy way in for foreign bodies (FB). On the base of the access way, it is possible to distinguish ingested FB, inhaled FB, penetrating FB and iatrogenic FB (due to surgery) FB may stop in oral and ocular cavities, or proceed deeply, reaching the surrounding soft tissues, the facial bones or other cavities such as sino-nasal region, mouth, orbits and further spaces of the head and neck region, like infra-temporal fossa, para...
Source: Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI - Category: Radiology Source Type: research