CBCT study on the relationship between lingula and antilingula position in a Chinese Han population

Objective The purpose of this article was to assess the anatomical relationship between the lingula and the antilingula by measuring the projection of lingula on the lateral side of the ramus on CBCT. Methods This study collected CBCT images of 204 mandibular halves in 102 Chinese patients without any damage. We projected the lingula to the lateral side of the mandibular ramus and examined the distance and position relationship between the projection point and the antilingula using three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) created by image software. Results In 204 sides the antilingula appeared in 92 cases, 52 on right and 40 on left. The antilingula was used as a fixed point, in four cases the lingula projection in the anterior superior part, 38 cases in the posterior superior part, 45 cases in the posterior inferior part and zero case in the anterior inferior part. Scatter plots diagrammatic representation in four quadrants centered on the antilingula showed that 79% cases (73/92) lied in a 90° fan shape ranged in 5–10 mm radius in the posterior superior and inferior quadrant. Conclusion The lingula mainly located in the posterior superior and inferior part from the antilingula in a 90° fan shape ranged in 5–10 mm radius. The osteotomy incision should be avoided in this area.