{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,27]],"date-time":"2026-09-27T12:02:00Z","timestamp":1790510520740,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767916800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Tomography"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The pterygomaxillary region is a complex anatomical area formed by the junction of the maxillary, palatine, and sphenoid bones and contains critical neurovascular structures. Accurate assessment of this region during Le Fort I osteotomy is essential, particularly to prevent hemorrhage and nerve injury that may occur during the pterygomaxillary separation phase. This study aims to investigate the morphometric characteristics of the pterygomaxillary region using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the effects of age, sex, and laterality on these anatomical parameters. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, CBCT scans of 200 individuals (100 males and 100 females) aged 20\u201380 years were analyzed. Axial measurements included distances between the piriform rim, the descending palatine artery, the pterygomaxillary osteotomy line, and the pterygomaxillary fissure. Additionally, the thickness and width of the pterygomaxillary region and pterygoid process, lengths of the medial and lateral pterygoid laminae, and the distance between the greater palatine canal and the medial pterygoid lamina apex were recorded. Measurements were statistically evaluated by sex, age group, and laterality. Results: The following parameters demonstrated statistically significant differences based on the conducted measurements: The distance between the piriform rim and the descending palatine artery was significantly greater on the left side (p &lt; 0.001). The length of the lateral pterygoid lamina increased with advancing age (p = 0.048). The thickness of the pterygomaxillary region was significantly greater in females (p = 0.014). Additionally, the distance between the greater palatine canal and the terminal point of the medial pterygoid lamina was significantly higher in males (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The pterygomaxillary region exhibits anatomical variations that may lead to serious complications during Le Fort I osteotomy. Detailed preoperative evaluation of this area using CBCT can guide surgical planning and help prevent potential vascular and neural complications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/tomography12010009","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T10:35:52Z","timestamp":1767954952000},"page":"9","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Anatomical Evaluation of the Pterygomaxillary Complex Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-7521-8390","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u00d6mer","family":"Demir","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Dicle University, 21280 Diyarbakir, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6168-1802","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kamil Serkan","family":"A\u011fa\u00e7ayak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Dicle University, 21280 Diyarbakir, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1186\/s40902-025-00487-4","article-title":"Management of the pterygoid plate in orthognathic surgery: A narrative review","volume":"47","author":"Hwang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Maxillofac. Plast. Reconstr. Surg."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1820","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joms.2020.06.003","article-title":"Evaluation of the Pterygomaxillary Separation Pattern in Le Fort I Osteotomy Using Different Cutting Instruments","volume":"78","author":"Bilge","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"789","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcms.2021.04.009","article-title":"Peri- and Postoperative Complications in Le Fort I Osteotomies","volume":"49","author":"Kotaniemi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Craniomaxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1835","DOI":"10.1097\/SCS.0000000000008502","article-title":"Computed Tomography Assessment of Maxillary Sinus and Inferior Nasal Airway After Le Fort I Osteotomy","volume":"33","author":"Ueki","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Craniofac. 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Surg."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1016\/j.oooo.2012.04.020","article-title":"Factors predictive of pterygoid process fractures after pterygomaxillary separation without using an osteotome in Le Fort I osteotomy","volume":"115","author":"Kanazawa","year":"2013","journal-title":"Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.5624\/isd.2015.45.2.89","article-title":"Can pterygoid plate asymmetry be linked to temporomandibular joint disorders?","volume":"45","author":"Guerrero","year":"2015","journal-title":"Imaging Sci. Dent."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1097\/00001665-200101000-00008","article-title":"Le Fort I osteotomy with sparing fracture of lateral pterygoid plate","volume":"12","author":"Hwang","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Craniofac. 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Morphol."}],"container-title":["Tomography"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2379-139X\/12\/1\/9\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]],"date-time":"2026-01-09T10:55:38Z","timestamp":1767956138000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2379-139X\/12\/1\/9"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]]},"references-count":17,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}},"alternative-id":["tomography12010009"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/tomography12010009","relation":{},"ISSN":["2379-139X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2379-139X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,9]]}}}