Radiographic examination of 41 cases of odontogenic myxomas on the basis of conventional radiographs

There are some different radiographic appearances of odontogenic myxoma that have not been reported in the published literature. The purpose of this article is to offer rare views of odontogenic myxomas and analyse the characteristics of the radiographic appearances.

We reviewed the radiographic appearances of 41 cases of odontogenic myxomas on conventional radiographs, recruited from patients who visited the Department of Oral Radiology, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University between 1964 and 2005. The diagnoses of the cases were verified by histopathology.

On conventional radiographs, odontogenic myxomas presented varying radiographic appearances, which could be divided into six types as follows: Type I-unilocular; Type II-multilocular (including honeycomb, soap bubble and tennis racquet patterns); Type III-involvement of local alveolar bone; Type IV-involvement of the maxillary sinus; Type V-osteolytic destruction and Type VI-a mix of osteolytic destruction and osteogenesis.

Odontogenic myxoma has variable radiographic appearances on conventional radiographs. This classification system helps us better understand the radiographic appearances of odontogenic myxoma on conventional radiographs.