Advancements in the MRI technology for identification of dentomaxillofacial pathologies.

Abstract

The high-resolution imaging capabilities of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) make it highly suitable for visualizing a wide range of dentomaxillofacial pathologies, including tumors, inflammatory conditions, and vascular abnormalities. This review focuses to the role of MRI in imaging head and neck pathologies, highlighting its advantages over traditional radiodiagnostics in dentistry. MRI's ability to detect periapical lesions, differentiate between various cysts and tumors, and assess the characteristics of odontogenic and non-odontogenic lesions is discussed. Special consideration is given to the differentiation of odontogenic keratocysts and ameloblastomas, as well as the evaluation of odontogenic fibromas and myxomas using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Additionally, the review explores the potential of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions, emphasizing the significance of these techniques in characterizing salivary gland tumors. Future advancements in MRI technology, including the application of high-field MRI and radiomics, are also considered. Radiomics, driven by artificial intelligence, offers a promising approach to extracting quantitative features from medical images, potentially enhancing the accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis in oral cancer. The review concludes by underscoring the transformative impact of MRI in dentomaxillofacial radiodiagnostics, advocating for its broader adoption in clinical practice to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.