THE MAXILLARY ARTERY IN CRANIOFACIAL PATHOLOGY

An angiographic evaluation of the maxillary artery and its branches provides a means of detection and diagnosis for many facial as well as intracranial lesions.

Its distal branches form a vascular framework around the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity and outline the bony septa of the adjacent orbital floor, pterygopalatine fossa and the roof of the nasopharynx. Extension of tumors across these facial compartments and into the cranial fossa, often difficult to detect by other techniques, can be detected by this method.

Although most tumors of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses have sparse vascularity, changes in vascular topography will provide information concerning the direction and degree of spread. This information has proved useful in establishing the optimum mode of therapy.

The collateral systems of the maxillary artery are reviewed and their importance in the evaluation of intractable epistaxis, occlusive vascular disease, vascular malformations and shunts, and facial as well as intracranial neoplasms are discussed.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?