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Radiolucent inflammatory jaw lesions: a twenty-year analysis
K Becconsall-Ryan1, D Tong, R M Love
1Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, University of Otago School of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand.
International Endodontic Journal
|August 27, 2010
Summary
Inflammatory radiolucent jaw lesions are common, with periapical granulomas and radicular cysts being most frequent. Clinical diagnosis alone is unreliable, highlighting the need for histopathology in diagnosing these jaw lesions.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Dental Radiology
- Head and Neck Oncology
Background:
- Radiolucent jaw lesions represent a diverse group of pathologies.
- Differentiating inflammatory lesions from other radiolucent entities is crucial for appropriate management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the range and features of radiolucent inflammatory jaw lesions.
- To assess the accuracy of clinical and radiographic diagnoses compared to histopathology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 17,038 histopathology reports.
- Identification and analysis of 3626 inflammatory radiolucent jaw lesions.
- Comparison of provisional clinical diagnoses with final histopathological findings.
Main Results:
- Inflammatory lesions constituted 72.8% of radiolucent jaw lesions.
- Periapical granulomas (59.7%) and radicular cysts (29.2%) were the most common types.
- Clinical diagnosis accuracy was low: 48.3% for granulomas and 36% for cysts.
Conclusions:
- Cystic changes are present in approximately 30% of endodontic inflammatory lesions.
- Demographics and lesion characteristics are comparable globally.
- Accurate diagnosis of inflammatory radiolucent jaw lesions requires histopathological examination.
