Bilateral mandibular accessory foramina and canals: a case report and review of the literature

To present a case of bilateral mandibular accessory canals and foramina observed on CT and review the relevant literature. Based on the literature, accessory canals and foramina are prevalent in the posterior mandible and the area of the symphysis and more frequently on the internal than the external surface of the mandible. Bilateral symmetry is common. Variations exist in size and number. Occurrence may change with age and racial origin. Nerves, neurovascular bundles, arterioles and venules have been found to occupy the accessory canals and foramina. No gender differences have been described. CT has advantages over two-dimensional radiography in identification of anatomical variations in the mandible.