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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Pathosis associated with radiographically normal follicular tissues in third molar impactions: a clinicopathological
Ali Hossein Mesgarzadeh1, Heidar Esmailzadeh, Majid Abdolrahimi
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. mesgarcu@hotmail.com
Background:
The follicular tissue around impacted third molars has a potential to develop pathosis. However, it is generally assumed that the absence of abnormal radiolucency indicates the presence of a normal follicle.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to investigate abnormalities associated with radiographically normal follicular tissue of third molar impactions.
Materials And Methods:
One hundred eighty-five impacted third molars from 170 patients with no signs of abnormal radiolucency (follicular space < 3 mm) were used for this study. Follicular tissues of the relevant teeth were collected. Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and stained routinely with hematoxilin and eosin to be independently examined by two pathologists. A diagnosis was registered only when the results from both pathologists were in concordance. Clinical details for each patient were registered in WHO standard forms to undergo chi-square statistical analysis.
Results:
Fifty-three per cent of the specimens had developed pathosis. The incidence of pathosis was higher in the age group of 20-30 years, in men compared to women and in the mandible compared to the maxilla.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study suggest that radiographic appearance may not be reliable in the diagnosis of pathosis in follicular tissue as a surprisingly high rate of pathosis was found in the absence of any radiographically detectable sign.