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. 2014 Dec 3;90(4):287–297. doi: 10.1007/s12565-014-0263-9

Table 5.

Comparison of selected parameters from the 25 studiesa included in the systematic review

Study Population (number of samples) Type of investigation and sample characteristics GPF opening direction (%) GPF dimensions (mm) Mean GPC length (mm)
I-A-M I-A-L Anterior Vertical AP LM
Tomaszewska et al. (2014) (this study) Polish (n = 1500) Sinus CT scans; mean age 42.1 ± 16.9; total: 717 M, 783 F 82.1 4.0 7.6 5.3 5.0 (0.4) 2.9 (0.7) 31.1 (2.9)b; range 15–44
Nimigean et al. (2013) Romanian (n = 100) Dry human skulls; age range 25–40; sexed 82.0 13.0 5.0 4.9 (0.9) 3.0 (0.9)
Piagkou et al. (2012) Greek (n = 71) Dry human skulls; adult; unsexed 5.3 (0.9) 2.7 (0.5)
Howard-Swirzinski et al. ( 2010) American (n = 500) CBCT scans; age range 18–73; total: 235 M, 265 F 29.0 (3.0)b; range 22–40
McKinney et al. (2010) American (n = 10) Maxillofacial CT scans; age range 18–64; unsexed 40.4 (1.9)b
Das et al. (2006) American (n = 100) Sinus HRCT scans; adult; total: 50 M, 50 F

SPF-GPF distance:

M: 28 ± 2 range 27–29; F: 27 ± 2 range 25–29

Osunwoke et al. (2011) Nigerian (n = 150) Dry human skulls; adult; sexed (100 % M) 15.0 (2.1)
Ajmani (1994) Nigerian (n = 65) Dry human skulls; adult, unsexed 58.7 38.7
Hassanali and Mwaniki (1984) Kenyan (n = 125) Dry human skulls; adult; total: 60 M, 22 F, 43 unsexed 74.0 26
Langenegger et al. (1983) South African (n = 100) Dry human skulls; mean age 42.7; total: 50 M, 50 F 2.5 (0.5)
Hwang et al. (2011) Korean (n = 50) Head HRCT scans; mean age 51.0; total: 22 M, 28 F 4.5 (0.7) 2.2 (0.4) 34.8 (2.7)b; range 22.6–48.5
Klosek and Rungruang (2009) Thai (n = 41) Human cadavers; mean age 71.2; total: 24 M, 17 F F: 5.1 (1.0) M: 4.9 (8.3) F: 2.8 (1.0) M: 2.6 (8.3)
3.25a (0.5)
Methathrathip et al. (2005) Thai (n = 160) Dry human skulls (n = 105) – mean age 48.1; total: 68 M, 37 F; human cadavers (n = 55) 97.6 4.9 (0.9) 2.7 (0.5) M: 30.0 (4.3) range 16.3–40.9; F: 27 ± 2 range 25–29
29.7 (4.2)b; range 16.3–40.9
Wang et al. (1988) Chinese (Taiwan) (n = 100) Dry human skulls; adult; sexed 90.0 10.0
Ikuta et al. (2013) Brazilian (n = 50) CBCT scans; mean age 35.8; total: 27 M, 23 F 3.1a (0.5)
Chrcanovic and Custódio (2010) Brazilian (n = 80) Dry human skulls; age unknown; unsexed 18.8 0.0 69.4 11.9
Dave et al. (2013) Indian (W) (n = 100) Dry human skulls; adult; total: 60 M, 39 F, 1 U 4.0 96.0
Sharma and Garud (2013) Indian (W) (n = 100) Dry human skulls; adult; unsexed 49.5 3.5 2.0 45.0 4.7 (1.1) 3.25b (0.5)
Kumar et al. (2011) Indian (N) (n = 100) Dry human skulls; adult; unsexed 19.0 73.0 1.0 7.0
Saralaya and Nayak (2007) Indian (SW) (n = 132) Dry human skulls; adult; unsexed 46.2 12.5 41.3
Ajmani (1994) Indian (N) (n = 34) Dry human skulls; adult, unsexed 91.4
Westmoreland and Blanton (1982) Indian (E) (n = 300) Dry human skulls; adult; unsexed 18.0 82.0
Sheikhi et al. (2013) Iranian (n = 138) CBCT scans; age range 18–76; total: 73 M, 65 F Right-side M: 32.7 (2.5) F: 30.5 (1.7); Left-side M: 33.2 (2.3) F: 30.6 (1.7)
31.8 (1.4)b
Douglas and Wormald (2006) Australian (n = 21) Head CT scans; formalin fixed cadavers; mean age 81 ± 8.9; total: 13 M, 8 F 40.1b; range 38.6–41.6
Jaffar and Hamadah (2003) Caucasian (Iraqi) (n = 50) Dry human skulls; adult; unsexed 60.0 36.0 4.0 4.6 (1.0) 2.8 (0.6)
Malamed and Trieger (1983) Mixed (n = 204) Dry human skulls; adult; unsexed 38.7 61.3

Data are presented as the mean, with the SD in parenthesis where appropriate

CT Computed tomography, CBCT, cone beam CT, HRCT high-resolution computed tomography, M male, F female, I-A-M inferiorly antero-medially, I-A-L inferiorly antero-laterally, SPF sphenopalatine foramen, N north, S south, E east, W west

This table presents the data from 25 studies (24 identified in the literature search and the present study) containing relevant measurements. The study population from the work of Ajmani (1994) has been divided in two, as the study analyses two different populations (African and Indian) (hence the 26 studies in the table)

aGPF diameter

bTotal