Unilocular Radiolucent Lesions of the Jaws: a Retrospective Panoramic and Cone Beam Computed Tomography Evaluation

Summary Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the imaging characteristics of common, radiolucent, unilocular, intraosseous lesions of the jaws using both panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT); also, to evaluate sufficiency of panoramic radiography in determining characteristic features of jaw lesions. Material and Methods: Retrospectively selected images of 57 patients with histopathology results were evaluated by two oral radiologists. The lesions were assessed based on shape, location, borders, relationship with the mandibular canal, presence of destruction of cortical bone, and expansion of cortical bone, and presence of an unerupted tooth related to the lesion. In addition, the widest areas of the lesions were measured. A total of 9 (15.8%) odontogenic keratocysts, 9 (15.8%) apical granulomas, 24 (42.1%) radicular cysts, 12 (21.0%) dentigerous cysts and 3 (5.2%) central giant cell granulomas in 57 patients (20 women, 37 men) with a mean age of 36.93 ± 17.96 years were included. Fifty-seven CBCT and 56 panoramic images of these patients were evaluated. Results: Twenty-nine (50.8%) lesions were in the mandible and 28 (49.2%) in the maxilla. A statistically significant difference was determined for the areas in CBCT images (p=0.007). Conclusions: Panoramic radiography is not as successful as CBCT in demonstrating some characteristics of the lesions, such as expansion and destruction. The area measurements may be beneficial in establishing the differential diagnosis of the lesion.